The Garden of Abdul Gasazi

Written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg

A boy enters a mysterious garden where reality blurs with illusion.

4.0 Goodreads · 4,533 ratings

32 pages· 1,117 words· Est. 9 min read-aloud· AD580L

$18.95Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Alan Mitz stumbles into the enigmatic garden of Abdul Gasazi, where reality and illusion intertwine. Strange topiary trees and the shadowy presence of Gasazi challenge Alan's perception. Even after escaping, the garden's spell lingers, haunting his everyday life. What secrets does this surreal place hold, and can Alan truly leave it behind? Discover a world where the line between real and surreal is tantalizingly thin.

From the publisher

Sometimes that very thin line between illusion and reality is not as clearly defined as we would like it to be. It certainly wasn’t the day that Alan Mitz stumbled into the garden of Abdul Gasazi. For in this bizarre and eerie place – where strange topiary trees loomed – the evil visage of Gasazi casts its shadow. And even after Alan escaped, the spell of Gasazi still seemed to penetrate into his everyday world. In this extraordinary, unusual, and unique picture book, Chris Van Allsburg explores both the real and surreal worlds with incredible deftness. In doing so, he has created exquisite and beautiful images that will continue to haunt readers long after they have left the enchanted garden of Abdul Gasazi.