This book is so cute; a charming premise, beautifully illustrated. I absolutely loved this. The message is so sweet. I can't wait to own a physical copy.

Thank You netgally and Oni press for allowing me to read.

This was such a neat little story. The concept was good, and the execution was better still. The fact that sprites never ceased to exist, although they stopped tending for gardens, and that the first page tells you that's okay, rids it of unnecessary drama. They are all still there, alive and kicking, they just changed their ways, and everything is still fine. Which doesn't make this a story of survival of the species, but of love and tenderness and humanity. A girl is sad because flowers don't grow for her, our main character makes them blossom, and there's no bigger plan there. It's just wanting to help.

The drawing style is so so so pretty, although a bit cramped at times. The emotion in everyone's eyes is absolutely beautiful, and the different characters' desings, too.

The story was just as long as it needed to be. It didn't drag on and it didn't feel like it was cut too short, either. I gotta respect stories like that. You introduce yourself, you tell your story and then you leave. It also leaves the right amount of things open for interpretation in the ending, where it doesn't feel like the authors are pushing for a sequel, but neither is it so closed of an ending that that's something that I could never see happening. That's some skilled storytelling right there.

I would like to thank Oni Press and NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for writing an honest review!

I am filled with joy as I have utterly fallen in love with this book from every possible aspect/angle. The art was majestic and the storyline was intriguing. One of my top comfort reads and a book I shall read to my kids. I am not saying this book targets just children but on the contrary, I am in my early 20s and a Disney movie lover (animation in general) who managed to enjoy and savor every single moment of this graphic novel.

“But maybe it needs to be done one step at a time?”

The Sprite and the Gardener peers through the branches to take a look at themes of community, friendship, and nature. Sprites were once caretakers of gardens, helping things to grow and bloom using their magic, but over time the humans took over and grew things themselves, and the sprites became a thing of the past. But Wisteria is new to the group and doesn’t see why she couldn’t help out the gardener with the beautiful smile, just a little bit…

This was a beautiful, cosy story. It was very simplistic narratively, but not necessarily in a negative way – the simplicity allowed the stunning artwork to shine too and added to the gentle vibes of the story. Reading it felt like you were sitting in a sunny garden along with Wisteria, feeling the light breeze on your skin and just having a lovely time.

Overall, it was a quick read with a clear, sweet message, and I’ll definitely be sharing it with some of my more reluctant readers in school.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is so sweet and whimsical and pleasing to the eye and heart. It's warm, and pretty, and vibrant. The story itself has somewhat lower stakes, but it still feels very important. This book was a balm for my spirit, honestly, and left me feeling very content. I will absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for something joyous, collaborative, and that will not hurt them.

The Sprite and the Gardener
By Rii Abrego and Joe Whitt

Edition: Ebook, 89 pages, Graphic Novel

Disclaimer: I got this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity!

Before the humans came along sprites, tiny cute fairy like beings, cared for all the plants that existed. They watered and pruned them, scared bugs away and made them bloom. But then the humans took over and the sprites went into hiding.
Until Wisteria moves to a new city and can't connect to the local sprites even though they are friendly. She seeks out a garden and sees a human girl who tries very hard to make the garden come to life again but fails equally bad. So Wisteria helps out in the nights until the human girl finds her after she falls asleep. Together they make a lush beautiful garden, pulling the other sprites out of hiding and making the world a beautiful place full of healthy plants because sprites and humans are working together.

It's a very adorable story and the art style is baffling cute. I absolutely adored every page! This is a very lovely book and I will gift it to every plant loving person I know!

This was a short but cute debut middle grade graphic novel that focuses on the friendship between a sprite and a young girl gardener. The illustrations are beautiful and the message is a heartwarming one. Recommended for fans of books like Crumbs. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

This is a cute tale for middle grade readers. It’s doesn’t fit into our curriculum, but it’s certainly recommendable!

This was such a beautiful graphic novel. Small in length but mighty in the visuals and hopeful messages. Sprites, the guardians of all things plants has been taking care of flora. This story was about wisteria, a new sprite finding the joys of growing and giving life to plants with a help of a tiny Gardner.

The visuals were stunning and the story was lovely. I hope to read and enjoy more from both the artist as well as the storyteller.

Thanks to NetGalley & Oni Press for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Beautifully illustrated, simple story with an effective message, this book is perfect for fans of The Tea Dragon Society!

(Thanks to Netgalley and Oni Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

This was the most adorable and cute graphic novel! The story warms your heart and I loved the art style and colouring. It had a lovely message that asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of and showed the power of friendship!

Wisteria is so cute! This reminded me so much of the Flower Fairies and my childhood. The illustrations are so gorgeous, I would love a garden like this.

A beautifully-illustrated story about a unique young sprite who wants to embrace the "old ways" by helping a young woman to restore her mother's garden to its former glory.

What's not to love?

Sweet and stirring and short.

5⭐️

This was so cute!!!! It’s short and sweet, you feel like you are sitting in a meadow in a sun ray when you are reading this. I especially love that aphids we’re even included in the plant magic since anyone who cares for plants knows they are the bane of your existence and having a little help from sprites would be oh so lovely for that! I also really love how the authors managed to show so much about the relationship between characters with saying very little, the balance on emphasis of the words and the art was beautifully done in my opinion.

If you liked Taproot or the Tea Dragon society then I HIGHLY recommend this!

I will say tho that the font for the beginning and end narration is a bit difficult to read.

A heart warming enchanting cosy adventure that will fill your heart with joy and deserve a place on any bookshelf.

This is such a delightfully illustrated cozy adventure that follows a sprite as they delve into a new place and an exploration of their power. They find a garden that is a test of their ability, and a way to prove to their new friends what they can do - not to mention it makes the gardener incredibly happy. Just when things look as though they might come to an end, our sprite illustrates a compassionate exchange around teamwork and the whole gang shows up to help! 4/5
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for sending the book for review consideration. All opinions are my own!

Let's start with the obvious. The illustrations are STUNNING!! The shading and coloring are also top-notch. These elements conduct most of the atmosphere of this graphic novel. Let's be honest and say that the atmosphere is 95% of the appeal of this book. The story is cute. (I do want to give props for not using the the-girl-group-is-a-bunch-of-mean-girls trope and instead opting for a well-meaning group that the main character just doesn't have the gumption to join yet) The simple, tried-and-true story is there to prop up the stellar art and composition, and we are all happy. I only wish there were more. More, please?

An incredibly cute book with beautiful art! I want my own sprite now to help me garden! I will be adding this to my library!

Thank you Netgalley, Rii Abrego and Joe Whitt, and the publisher for an eARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this cute story. The art style was simply beautiful and I really enjoyed the representation of plus-sized individuals in this graphic novel as well. I would highly recommend this to teens that enjoy things like Studio Ghibli, or other high-color graphic novels. I think this will circulate well in my library and would also recommend it to the other affiliates within our system. Thank you for allowing me to review this publication.

A beautifully wholesome and heartwarming story told through incredibly pretty illustrations. Wisteria is a great main character whose emotions are depicted well throughout the story and I love the journey she goes on.

It would've been nicer to have more of the other sprites and the Elena to develop their characters and stories more as i can see a lot of potential in all of them through the character designs.

A highlight would definitely be the use of colour in the magical moments and the beginning and end scenes which really stick in my mind.