La Sorpresa del Jardinero (the Gardener's Surprise) - by Carla Balzaretti (Hardcover)

About the Book

The Gardener's Surprise is a moving story about the importance of our beliefs in our daily lives, as well as a celebration of indulging in personal passions as an excellent way of achieving happiness.

Lexile Level: 740L

Book Synopsis

Andrés has a hobby: gardening. As soon as he is offered a new job that will allow him to move into a house with a large garden, he does not hesitate for a second and he accepts. But... What if work interferes with what you like best in the world?

Although he works as a train mechanic, Andrés's real passion is gardening: he loves flowers so much that his little apartment is full of plants of all shapes and sizes. When a company offers him a new job with a good salary and a house with a big garden, Andrés accepts without hesitation, unaware that maybe he's putting at risk things much more important than his job or his hobby...

La sorpresa del jardinero is a moving story about the importance of our beliefs in our daily lives, as well as a celebration of indulging in personal passions as an excellent way of achieving happiness.

Andrés tiene una afición: la jardinería. En cuanto le ofrecen un nuevo trabajo que le permitirá poder mudarse a una casa con un gran jardín, no lo duda ni un segundo y acepta. Pero... ¿qué sucede si el trabajo interfiere en lo que más te gusta en el mundo?

Aunque trabaja como mecánico de locomotoras, la verdadera pasión de Andrés es la jardinería: le gustan tanto las flores que su pequeño departamento está repleto de plantas de todas las especies y formas. Cuando una empresa le ofrece un nuevo trabajo con un buen sueldo y una casa con un gran jardín, Andrés lo acepta sin dudarlo, sin saber que quizás está poniendo en peligro cosas más importantes que su afición o su trabajo...

La sorpresa del jardinero es una emotiva historia sobre la importancia de trabajar por nuestros sueños e ideales, así como dirigir nuestra vida hacia aquello que amamos, nos motiva y nos hace felices.

Review Quotes

"A moving story that reminds us of the importance of never abandoning our dreams and being consistent with our ideals. Full of humorous touches that, by modifying the narrative rhythm, make the story even more interesting." --Apogeoyliteratura

About the Author

Carla Balzaretti was born in Argentina, autumn 1978. The passion for inventing stories comes back at a young age, long before she knew how to write. She studied Education and Teaching and worked for seven years as editor. She has published several books for young children.

Sonja Wimmer loves painting pictures and telling stories. After studying and working for some years as a graphic designer in her hometown of Munich and Brussels, she decided to pack her suitcase and move to Barcelona to study Illustration at the Llotja Arts and Crafts School. Since then, she lives between brushes and stories, working as an illustrator and freelance for publishers and other customers worldwide. She has received many awards for her work in the United States, most notably Gold Medal for Best Illustrator for The Word Collector.