Helen Wilbur has written a fascinating story of small town American life during World War II as depicted through the eyes of a young girl named Lily. The plot is simple, the words realistically convey the emotional aspects of the story, and the illustrations richly enhance the entire book.
Lily longs to have a garden of her own. When she reads of the government’s call for citizens to grow their own food in a Victory Garden, she creates hers with some help from a grieving neighbor whose son died in the war. Initially, Mrs. Bishop remains out of sight, yet she leaves little hints of her presence as she visits the garden when Lily is not around. Gradually, the Victory Garden, Lily and her dog all contribute to Mrs. Bishop’s healing.
I love the little touches in the text which ring true. For example, Lily’s older brother says “I told you so” after she learns she is too young to qualify for a Victory Garden plot at the town’s park. Later in the story Lily states “Father and Mother know that I have been crying so I have to tell them everything.”
I appreciated reading about the efforts made by ordinary Americans to support the war. Although I learned most of these facts during history classes when I was growing up, I found it interesting to read (both literally and visually) about the 1941-45 time period, especially through the eyes of a child.
Robert Gannt Steele painted the illustrations. I am so enthralled with these watercolor paintings, which provide just the right emotional tone in each scene, that whenever I read Lily’s Victory Garden, I end up re-reading the illustrations a number of times before closing the book and putting it away for another day.
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