Marta and the Sunflower Night

Lantern Night is almost here, but the sunflowers in Verbove’s community garden are drooping in the dry soil. Marta promised four little children a garden full of “a hundred little suns.” How can she help the flowers shine before the celebration?

Marta is ready to act: she even draws a blue arrow from a watering can. With her friend Levko and Little Brush, a talking snail who notices what others might miss, she searches for water. But the stream is shallow, the neighboring apple trees need their share, and an old route may not work as Marta expected. To find a way forward, she’ll need more than a bold plan. Can Marta listen, look closely, and bring the neighbors together before Lantern Night?

With lively details, gentle humor, and a resourceful young hero, this warm story invites early readers to follow a community garden adventure. A lovely choice to share aloud or enjoy together, with a reminder that caring for a place can begin with paying attention.