A dog delights in a summer day spent in the garden with his owner, an avid gardener.

When a dog named Dutch hears the gardener going down the stairs each morning, he anticipates her every move. But most of all, he waits for the beautiful words, “Okay, Dutch. Let’s go outside.”

It’s a bright summer day. Dutch stands back from the dark, dusty toolshed, but the rest of the day is blissful — rolling in the dewy grass, waiting for a scratch behind his ears, napping on the gardener’s boots at midday and playing in the hose.

An amusing story about taking pleasure in the things we love, especially in the company of a good friend, written by Patricia Storms, with gorgeous illustrations by Nathalie Dion.

What people are saying:

“Because The Dog’s Gardener provides temporary vicarious respite and a much-needed reminder of the simple, reliable joys of spending time in nature, it would make an excellent read-aloud for young children troubled by the ongoing atmosphere of tension constantly lurking in the air during the Covid pandemic; it would work equally well for an audience of one as for a class. The picture book would also be a delightful gift for any child who loves playing outside, as well as anyone of any age who enjoys dogs and/or gardening.” Highly Recommended — (CM: Canadian Review of Materials)

“Storms effectively imagines Dutch’s canine thought processes, including delight in spending time in nature (“While she works, I roll in the dewy grass and breathe in the sweet, rich smells around me”) and playing in the hose spray (“Oh joy!”). Lighthearted prose allows Dion’s expansive art to take center stage: hand-painted gouache textures, combined with digital painting, provide a feast for the eyes, while Impressionist-style florals and an English garden–esque color palette round out each page. An evocative visual story evoking pleasurable outdoor experiences.” — Publishers Weekly

“The plot is uncomplicated, the richness of the story coming from the affection between dog narrator and human companion and from their shared appreciation of the garden ... The scenes have the texture of chalk drawings, with smudges and lines blurring into the blooms on a tree, the indistinct edges of grass, and flowers crowding the garden walkways. This is a lovely celebration of a simple, perfect summer day shared between friends.” — The Horn Book