The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1987, Hardcover, Illustrated)

This version of the The Secret Garden is the best contemporary one available. Because I use this classic book in teaching my college education students, I have become a collector of sorts of the different versions of The Secret Garden. The story of awakening to the beauty of friendship as the garden awakens is the same original classic text, however, what makes this particular version special are the sensitive Michael Hague illustrations.

I first bought this version because I have fallen in love with Michael Hague's illustrations and wanted to see what he had done with a book I so cherish. As an artist and college instructor, I value the innocent, timeless way Hague interprets the story. Unless you are totally hooked on the original 1911 drawings for their particular beauty, this is the copy to buy.