Real Life of an MSW

The Gardener of Alcatraz, by Emma Bland Smith (39 pages, 2022)I picked this book up recently while visiting Alcatraz Island, and it was an absolute treasure of a find. The path leading around the western side of the island actually features a “storyboard” version of this picture book, with sturdy signs installed right in the gardens reproducing one double-page spread per sign. Even though we accidentally started at the end of the path and read the story backward, I became so entranced by it that I immediately went to the gift shop to purchase a copy!

The book tells the remarkable true story of Elliott Michener, an inmate at the federal penitentiary during the 1940s. Convicted of counterfeiting, Elliott wasn’t a violent criminal, but he was scheming, cynical, and completely focused on busting out. That all changed when he was given a job tending the prison gardens. To his own surprise, he began to find meaning and creative joy in cultivating something beautiful on that windswept rock. He abandoned his escape plans, reformed his outlook, and formed genuine relationships with the people on the island—even creating a slice of paradise for the warden and his family.

It reads beautifully, almost like a children’s version of Sue Stuart- Smith’s “A Well Garden Mind .” It is a wonderful way to introduce children to the concepts of consequences, rehabilitation, and the peace that comes from nurturing nature. The illustrations are absolutely fabulous, and the brief biography with real photographs at the end adds a perfect historical touch. This story would almost feel too good to be true if it weren’t a piece of history. Highly recommended for families and history lovers alike!