by Harry Woodgate
 
“Mum said sometimes sadness can grow like a weed inside our heads and stop us doing the things we love. Maybe that’s how Miss Brown’s house got so overgrown”.
 
The house at the end of Holly’s street is a ramshackle oddity. Its floors are covered with rubbish and discarded objects. Its exterior is shrouded in vegetation which pours around the outside and creeps through the cracks into the interior.  While “people thought it was scary”, Holly calls it, “like something from a fairy tale”. But, she does feel a little frightened when, exploring on her own one day, she is spies an elderly woman at the window with a furrowed face and spiky hair: Mum explains to Holly that Miss Brown rarely goes out, that “she was probably more scared to see you”. 
 
Concerned about Miss Brown, all alone in her “slumbering giant” of a house, Holly sends her a letter. And, Miss Brown replies! She explains, “my brain was ill for a long time and I fear the wildness has spilled out”. She says she was once a gardener and that she misses the butterflies her garden used to attract. Holly sets out to bring the butterflies back to Miss Brown’s garden. She gets advice from teacher Mrs Patel on how to attract butterflies and then uses a letter writing campaign to ask all the neighbours to help her restore Miss Brown's garden to its former butterfly-happy glory… and then, well… you can expect a happy ending: “Miss Brown’s smile unfurled like butterfly wings. It was like something from a fairy tale”.  
 
A nuanced story by an award-winning author/illustrator, in which social isolation has come about through and further perpetuates poor mental health. The reprinted letters are a lovely touch and one likely to be appreciated by teachers.  
 
Adored by our reviewers: 
“Uncle Harry does it again. A lovely story about being kind and the power of community that also -gently, but clearly- raises the issue of mental health… the book doesn’t seek to explain anything but just asks for acceptance. The illustrations (of course) are beautiful” (Mark Jennett, Equalities Trainer/Consultant, Letterbox Library reviewer). 
“I love that Miss Brown’s appearance and her home isn’t judged or commented on by the characters. She has full dignity” (Fen, Letterbox Library Staff). 
“I really love the sentiment of a young girl reaching out to an adult and not being afraid that Miss Brown is different- did she even recognise that she was different?” (Elaine, Foster Care Associates Liaison Officer, Letterbox Library reviewer).
[Single parent family; white lead characters within a diverse and inclusive neighbourhood]. Age 4-7, Paperback 24pp
 
Themes: Mental Health and Wellbeing Themes: Diverse Families