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The Garden and the Glen: A Fable about Character and the Courage to Be Different
NATIONAL INDIES EXCELLENCE AWARD 2020 MOM'S CHOICE AWARD RECIPIENT 2020
FOREWORD INDIES BOOK OF THE YEAR FINALIST 2020
The Garden and the Glen is about the magic that finds us when we're brave enough to be our unique selves.A tiny blue butterfly is chased out of a yellow garden because she does not blend in.
She flees to the nearby forest glen, where she encounters a colorful band of woodland creatures-all of them expelled from the garden for the same reason-being different. The glen provides safety, friendship, and acceptance. However, it's the garden that holds the blue butterfly's true destiny.
A Queen, a mystical potion, and the fate of their natural world hang in the balance. The blue butterfly, and what makes her different, holds the key.
FOREWORD INDIES BOOK OF THE YEAR FINALIST 2020
The Garden and the Glen is about the magic that finds us when we're brave enough to be our unique selves.A tiny blue butterfly is chased out of a yellow garden because she does not blend in.
She flees to the nearby forest glen, where she encounters a colorful band of woodland creatures-all of them expelled from the garden for the same reason-being different. The glen provides safety, friendship, and acceptance. However, it's the garden that holds the blue butterfly's true destiny.
A Queen, a mystical potion, and the fate of their natural world hang in the balance. The blue butterfly, and what makes her different, holds the key.
108 pages, Paperback
Published December 16, 2020
About the author
Elizabeth Moseley
2 books30 followersThe Garden and the Glen began many years ago as a short bedtime story. Elizabeth Moseley’s then-young daughters loved hearing stories at the end of the day. Elizabeth was happy reading their favorite books, but found her greatest joy in creating original fiction.
A lifelong fan of Aesop and mythology, her tales often featured some magic, and always
a happy ending. At the urging of her now-grown daughters, she has finally written one down.
Elizabeth holds an M.A. in English Literature from Georgetown University.
A lifelong fan of Aesop and mythology, her tales often featured some magic, and always
a happy ending. At the urging of her now-grown daughters, she has finally written one down.
Elizabeth holds an M.A. in English Literature from Georgetown University.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 24, 2021
A beautiful fable/fairy tale that has a large story to tell despite it’s short length. Centering on a blue butterfly 🦋 who’s been pushed out of her garden home by a butterfly queen and her hoard, two shocking events will bring her back there with her new friends. Touching and magical, while showing we’re proud to be unique. A (100%/Outstanding)
December 18, 2024
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
The Garden and the Glen is a beautifully told and reflective fable that reminds us and teaches us about courage, acceptance, diversity, and standing up for what you believe in.
Although this is a children's book, it made my heart warm with the beautiful messages it conveys for children and which sadly are very much needed to be taught to them today in the world we live in.
We follow the story of a little blue butterfly sho is chased away from a garden because she doesn't belong or fit in there. Through this, she meets many new friends and finds companionship, safety, friendship, and acceptance, and her kindheartedness really shines through when she decides to help those who shunned her.
The illustrations are gentle and calming and make the audience feel relaxed and safe.
It's definitely a book I would recommend to any parent or educational setting!
The Garden and the Glen is a beautifully told and reflective fable that reminds us and teaches us about courage, acceptance, diversity, and standing up for what you believe in.
Although this is a children's book, it made my heart warm with the beautiful messages it conveys for children and which sadly are very much needed to be taught to them today in the world we live in.
We follow the story of a little blue butterfly sho is chased away from a garden because she doesn't belong or fit in there. Through this, she meets many new friends and finds companionship, safety, friendship, and acceptance, and her kindheartedness really shines through when she decides to help those who shunned her.
The illustrations are gentle and calming and make the audience feel relaxed and safe.
It's definitely a book I would recommend to any parent or educational setting!
December 2, 2024
The artwork is beautiful. I wish this were either a graphic novel, or a picture book. The story seemed choppy, it just didn't flow well going between the different groups of characters. I also think it would be better suited to pick one lesson and focus on that. I feel like we were on a path for one lesson then just abruptly turned off for another one.
April 27, 2021
Book Review
The Garden and the Glen: A Fable about Character and the Courage to Be Different By Elizabeth Moseley
The Garden and the Glen is a touching tale that reminds us of the importance of accepting each other, celebrating our differences, gives us the courage to stand up against bullies and stand up for others. I want to admire the author who wants to convey an important message through her book.
This story is about a tiny blue butterfly who is chased out of a yellow garden because she does not belong there. She flew to the nearby glen and met so many amazing friends who all had similar experiences. The glen provides safety, friendship, and acceptance. But the blue butterfly wants to help the queen of the yellow kingdom who needs a magic potion to restore her powers, and there is a bossy butterfly that wants to take over her kingdom and wants to become the king.
The book cover is also beautiful and enough to grab the attention of readers. The watercolor illustrations in this book are amazing and give us a warm and cozy feel.
This book takes you into the world of beautiful flowers and colorful animals that teach children to keep courage and faith in themselves and highlights the importance of friendship and teamwork.
Perfect for 5+
Pages: 100
This book is available on Amazon.
The Garden and the Glen: A Fable about Character and the Courage to Be Different By Elizabeth Moseley
The Garden and the Glen is a touching tale that reminds us of the importance of accepting each other, celebrating our differences, gives us the courage to stand up against bullies and stand up for others. I want to admire the author who wants to convey an important message through her book.
This story is about a tiny blue butterfly who is chased out of a yellow garden because she does not belong there. She flew to the nearby glen and met so many amazing friends who all had similar experiences. The glen provides safety, friendship, and acceptance. But the blue butterfly wants to help the queen of the yellow kingdom who needs a magic potion to restore her powers, and there is a bossy butterfly that wants to take over her kingdom and wants to become the king.
The book cover is also beautiful and enough to grab the attention of readers. The watercolor illustrations in this book are amazing and give us a warm and cozy feel.
This book takes you into the world of beautiful flowers and colorful animals that teach children to keep courage and faith in themselves and highlights the importance of friendship and teamwork.
Perfect for 5+
Pages: 100
This book is available on Amazon.
March 5, 2021
The Garden and the Glen is a story for children of age group 6-12 years. It is written by the author Elizabeth Moseley and illustrated by Maggie Green. Once a blue butterfly was in the yellow garden. She was chased by thousands of yellow butterflies and was sent out of the garden.
The tired blue butterfly kept on flying until she reached the garden Glen. There she met different creatures and got to know that they also had been thrown out of the yellow garden because they don't belong there. The blue butterfly felt safe and thankful to her new friends as they included her.
The blue butterfly earlier went into the yellow garden because she had heard about the caring Butterfly Queen. Right before the blue butterfly came to the garden, the queen went sick and a yellow newcomer had taken control of the garden. He wanted everything to be yellow. So, he sent away all non-yellow creatures.
The story is interesting and children will definitely adore it. Cover photo of the book is nice with a lucid language. This is an inspiring story that teaches readers to believe in themselves. It teaches us that our uniqueness is what makes us perfect. Pace of the story is fine. It's an interesting story book and I enjoyed every bit of it.
The tired blue butterfly kept on flying until she reached the garden Glen. There she met different creatures and got to know that they also had been thrown out of the yellow garden because they don't belong there. The blue butterfly felt safe and thankful to her new friends as they included her.
The blue butterfly earlier went into the yellow garden because she had heard about the caring Butterfly Queen. Right before the blue butterfly came to the garden, the queen went sick and a yellow newcomer had taken control of the garden. He wanted everything to be yellow. So, he sent away all non-yellow creatures.
The story is interesting and children will definitely adore it. Cover photo of the book is nice with a lucid language. This is an inspiring story that teaches readers to believe in themselves. It teaches us that our uniqueness is what makes us perfect. Pace of the story is fine. It's an interesting story book and I enjoyed every bit of it.
January 12, 2025
A beautiful story about finding a solution to a problem can be found in The Garden and the Glen. A buckeye tree stands on a farm with yellow flowers that bloom in spring. A buckeye tree is home to hundreds of yellow butterflies. A selfish yellow butterfly wants to take over the Queen's kingdom when she becomes sick, and turn everything yellow. Everything other than yellow was evicted from the beautiful garden. There was a brilliant blue butterfly who was forced out of the garden. As she flew, she came to a clearing with a pond. Fish, frogs, a bunny, a squirrel, a family of deer, and some beautiful orange daylilies were all there. Each of them described being forced out of the garden as well. Blue butterfly studied her friends. Each of them stood out because of their colors, shapes, and sizes. This is what makes them all unique. The story highlights the importance of diversity by showing how each creature's unique characteristics contribute to the beauty and richness of the world around them. When the garden is dominated by a single color, its vibrancy is lost, underscoring that true beauty lies in the variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. By embracing diversity, the characters learn that their differences are strengths that can create a harmonious and thriving environment. It was their differences that made them beautiful. "We belong! We don't have to blend in to belong." You are now able to reach beyond yourself and help your friends, despite your differences. That's what makes belonging so special. In order to cope with fear, we hide or try to blend in. It means you do not need to change; you are accepted and welcome as you are. Empathy plays a crucial role in fostering a sense of belonging among the diverse characters in the story. By understanding and appreciating each other's unique experiences and perspectives, the characters are able to connect on a deeper level, despite their differences. This mutual understanding allows them to build a community where everyone feels valued and accepted, reinforcing the idea that empathy is essential for creating an inclusive and supportive environment. Whenever you belong, you are never alone. There is an urgent need for the Queen to find the healing flower. The Queen was loved by the flower kingdom. As a result, they decided to help. In order to release the medicine flower's scent, the snapdragons told the daisies, the daisies told the buttercups, and the buttercups told the roses. When the blue butterfly fluttered her wings, the Queen interpreted this as a signal to come. The Queen confronted the evil yellow butterfly and forced him out of the garden for good. The daylily who befriended and protected the blue butterfly was the flower of healing. As a result of the Queen's healing, harmony in the garden was restored. It was through communication, friendship, and healing that the garden was saved and peace was restored.
March 10, 2025
Thank you to Lenox Street Press and NetGalley for the eGalley to review!
Easily my favorite part of this book was the collection of beautiful watercolor illustrations. I could stare at them all day. It was truly a delight turning the page to see each one of them.
As for the story, it's your typical "conformity breeds intolerance and bullying of nonconformists" in that everyone who is not yellow is not allowed into the titular garden. This is because the butterfly queen is sick and the "bossy butterfly" (who is, of course, yellow) is greedy for power. He wants the queen to die so he can take her throne and keep everything yellow, with any nonconformists scared out of the garden. So when our main protagonist, the blue butterfly--who was chased out of the garden and into the glen by the collective of yellow butterflies--is the queen's hope of recovering, he isn't having it. He tries desperately to hang on to his power.
Luckily for blue butterfly, she's made a bunch of new friends in the glen, who were also scared away from the garden. This includes a mother doe and her fawns, a cardinal, a hummingbird, a grey bunny, a brown squirrel, frogs, fish, and even some day lilies. Their fear of the yellow butterfly collective taught them to hide by blending into the scenery, but what kind of life is that? Upon hearing that the butterfly queen needs her to land on the one medicinal flower in a sea of yellow flowers in order to see it, blue butterfly's courage then sparks courage in her new friends to lend some help.
I thought the bossy butterfly would be taught the lesson and then change his ways, but instead he throws a tantrum and destroys the medicinal flower before being banished from the garden. Alas, this is a lesson for the reader that sometimes people just won't change--but others will and it's important to be the catalyst of that change. Our differences make us strong and creates a beautiful kaleidoscope of colors. There is a happy ending, I can promise you!
It's meant to be an easy read for readers new to chapter books, though sometimes the chapter breaks are in the middle of scenes, causing some disjointing in structure. But, this is still a good one to add to the social-emotional learning collection!
Easily my favorite part of this book was the collection of beautiful watercolor illustrations. I could stare at them all day. It was truly a delight turning the page to see each one of them.
As for the story, it's your typical "conformity breeds intolerance and bullying of nonconformists" in that everyone who is not yellow is not allowed into the titular garden. This is because the butterfly queen is sick and the "bossy butterfly" (who is, of course, yellow) is greedy for power. He wants the queen to die so he can take her throne and keep everything yellow, with any nonconformists scared out of the garden. So when our main protagonist, the blue butterfly--who was chased out of the garden and into the glen by the collective of yellow butterflies--is the queen's hope of recovering, he isn't having it. He tries desperately to hang on to his power.
Luckily for blue butterfly, she's made a bunch of new friends in the glen, who were also scared away from the garden. This includes a mother doe and her fawns, a cardinal, a hummingbird, a grey bunny, a brown squirrel, frogs, fish, and even some day lilies. Their fear of the yellow butterfly collective taught them to hide by blending into the scenery, but what kind of life is that? Upon hearing that the butterfly queen needs her to land on the one medicinal flower in a sea of yellow flowers in order to see it, blue butterfly's courage then sparks courage in her new friends to lend some help.
I thought the bossy butterfly would be taught the lesson and then change his ways, but instead he throws a tantrum and destroys the medicinal flower before being banished from the garden. Alas, this is a lesson for the reader that sometimes people just won't change--but others will and it's important to be the catalyst of that change. Our differences make us strong and creates a beautiful kaleidoscope of colors. There is a happy ending, I can promise you!
It's meant to be an easy read for readers new to chapter books, though sometimes the chapter breaks are in the middle of scenes, causing some disjointing in structure. But, this is still a good one to add to the social-emotional learning collection!
September 5, 2024
5 out of 5 Stars
Review
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing this ARC.
The Garden and the Glen is about the magic that finds us when we are brave enough to be our unique selves even when the world is trying to convince us that we are unwanted. This is the dugly duckling meets magic.
A small blue butterfly is chased out of a yellow garden because she does not blend in. She flees to the forest of glen, where she encounters a colorful band of woodland creatures, birds, rabbits and deers, all of whom were also expelled from the garden for the same reason-being different.
The glen provides safety, friendship, and acceptance. However, it is the garden that holds the blue butterfly's true destiny.A Queen, a mystical potion, and the fate of their natural world hang in the balance. The blue butterfly, and what makes her different, holds the key.
On top of the story, the beautiful illustration really brings the story to life. The pictures are reminiscent of old fables resembling a kids crayon drawings. Any child reading the book will enjoy it very much.
Pros:
Illustrations: Maggie Green’s illustrations complement the story beautifully. The artwork is bright, colorful, and magical, adding a visual layer that brings the characters and their world to life.
Moral Lessons: The story teaches valuable lessons on standing up for oneself and others, fostering kindness, and accepting our own differences. We live a multicultural world today and these morals are a valuable lessons for any child.
Language and Structure: The simple yet eloquent language is perfect for children aged 6-12. The short chapters and accessible writing style make it suitable for both early readers and for reading aloud.
Cons:
Well, a childrens book can hardly have any cons.
Conclusion
The Garden and the Glen is an enchanting and inspiring tale for children that celebrates individuality and uniqueness. The book’s positive messages, along with its beautiful illustrations, make it a wonderful choice for both young readers and those looking for a story with moral depth with emphasis on kindness and courage.
Review
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing this ARC.
The Garden and the Glen is about the magic that finds us when we are brave enough to be our unique selves even when the world is trying to convince us that we are unwanted. This is the dugly duckling meets magic.
A small blue butterfly is chased out of a yellow garden because she does not blend in. She flees to the forest of glen, where she encounters a colorful band of woodland creatures, birds, rabbits and deers, all of whom were also expelled from the garden for the same reason-being different.
The glen provides safety, friendship, and acceptance. However, it is the garden that holds the blue butterfly's true destiny.A Queen, a mystical potion, and the fate of their natural world hang in the balance. The blue butterfly, and what makes her different, holds the key.
On top of the story, the beautiful illustration really brings the story to life. The pictures are reminiscent of old fables resembling a kids crayon drawings. Any child reading the book will enjoy it very much.
Pros:
Illustrations: Maggie Green’s illustrations complement the story beautifully. The artwork is bright, colorful, and magical, adding a visual layer that brings the characters and their world to life.
Moral Lessons: The story teaches valuable lessons on standing up for oneself and others, fostering kindness, and accepting our own differences. We live a multicultural world today and these morals are a valuable lessons for any child.
Language and Structure: The simple yet eloquent language is perfect for children aged 6-12. The short chapters and accessible writing style make it suitable for both early readers and for reading aloud.
Cons:
Well, a childrens book can hardly have any cons.
Conclusion
The Garden and the Glen is an enchanting and inspiring tale for children that celebrates individuality and uniqueness. The book’s positive messages, along with its beautiful illustrations, make it a wonderful choice for both young readers and those looking for a story with moral depth with emphasis on kindness and courage.
March 26, 2021
Detailed Review Of "The Garden And The Glen: A Fable About Character And The Courage To Be Different" By Elizabeth Moseley
Thanks to author for the review copy.
Genre - Children's books
Ratings 4.5/5
The garden and the glen is an amazing story and talks about acceptance and compassion. Its an intriguing story and once you start reading this there is no way you're gonna put it down easily.
Author has narrated this story very nicely and also writing style is very nice and error free. It's writing in a very simple way which makes it easier for all kinds of reader.
The writing style of the author is very good and error free and also written in very simple way which makes it easy to read.
The title of the book is also very good and author has narrated this story very nicely and kept you interesting throughout the story.
Illustrator has done an amazing job I really loved all the Illustrations.
I really loved the cover of the book it's a highlight for me it got a simple vibe to it.
Overall it's an amazing read and I would highly recommend this book to all the readers.
Thanks to author for the review copy.
Genre - Children's books
Ratings 4.5/5
The garden and the glen is an amazing story and talks about acceptance and compassion. Its an intriguing story and once you start reading this there is no way you're gonna put it down easily.
Author has narrated this story very nicely and also writing style is very nice and error free. It's writing in a very simple way which makes it easier for all kinds of reader.
The writing style of the author is very good and error free and also written in very simple way which makes it easy to read.
The title of the book is also very good and author has narrated this story very nicely and kept you interesting throughout the story.
Illustrator has done an amazing job I really loved all the Illustrations.
I really loved the cover of the book it's a highlight for me it got a simple vibe to it.
Overall it's an amazing read and I would highly recommend this book to all the readers.
March 12, 2025
A tiny blue butterfly is chased out of a yellow garden. There are yellow leaves, flowers, animals and butterflies. In and of itself the yellow garden is beautiful but full of sameness.
The blue butterfly is sad and flits away visiting other animals and insects that have had the same experience, being chased out of the yellow garden. These animals are beautiful and come in a rainbow of colors.
In this magical and beautiful garden full of uniqueness he finds acceptance. Back in the yellow garden the Yellow Queen needs a magical potion for healing and the blue butterfly holds the key to procuring it for her. After being snubbed in the yellow garden should he snub the queen, and the ones sent to bring him back for her magical cure?
Despite his being wrongly treated he is not bitter and happily accepts the queens request for help.
A beautiful story for children showing that just because someone is different that it doesn't make them bad or strange and to embrace uniqueness and learn from it.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
The blue butterfly is sad and flits away visiting other animals and insects that have had the same experience, being chased out of the yellow garden. These animals are beautiful and come in a rainbow of colors.
In this magical and beautiful garden full of uniqueness he finds acceptance. Back in the yellow garden the Yellow Queen needs a magical potion for healing and the blue butterfly holds the key to procuring it for her. After being snubbed in the yellow garden should he snub the queen, and the ones sent to bring him back for her magical cure?
Despite his being wrongly treated he is not bitter and happily accepts the queens request for help.
A beautiful story for children showing that just because someone is different that it doesn't make them bad or strange and to embrace uniqueness and learn from it.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
December 6, 2024
What a beautifully illustrated book! The story shows that there is no need to impress others, just be yourself. There are all sort of people/animals out in the world; some are nice and some are not so nice. You have the ones that will protect you no matter what (even if they don't know you) and others that will look the other way. This book tells that life with animals can be the same as life with people. This is a good read aloud book, I think would be perfect for 3rd to 5th grade.
September 15, 2024
Phwoar! This is a real stunner. I have been hunting high and low for books that are suitable for Y 2-3 students that are a tiny bit longer and not humorous. I love funny stories, so do my students, but they need to have a wider reading spectrum. This one is just perfect. It has an uplifting moral message and beautiful illustration. Will definitely use it in my courses.
March 25, 2025
This was a cute story about belonging and accepting differences in others. The story was a bit awkward at times but had great descriptions of the garden and the meadow, the animals in the story, and the feelings of the characters. I loved the illustrations! They reminded me of the books I read as a child.
Thank you NetGalley and Lenox Street Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you NetGalley and Lenox Street Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
January 3, 2025
It just was a miss for me. The illustrations were cute but the story was not enough for more than a picture book. A classic good versus the "evil dude" story.
June 9, 2025
Adorable illustrations. Lovely little tale, appropriate for today, about diversity and bullies and belonging and acceptance.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews