The Concrete Garden

The Concrete Garden by Bob Graham is a picture book intended for children aged approximately 3–7 years. It explores themes of creativity, community, and hope in the aftermath of challenging times such as the pandemic.

Synopsis
Following a long winter, the children of an apartment building gather in the concrete courtyard. Amanda arrives carrying a box of colored chalk. She begins to draw green patterns, which her friends transform into dandelions, mushrooms, snails, palm trees, spaceships, and even the figure of “Queen Swirl”—all emerging through their creative collaboration.

One child, Nasrin, photographs the “concrete garden” and sends the image to her mother in Iran. The picture is seen as a symbol of how simple beauty can connect communities across the globe. When the rain eventually washes away the chalk drawings, the children remain undeterred. They tear the chalk box into pieces, fashion it into cardboard boats, and continue playing, sustaining their spirit of creativity.