At the end of the world, on the Norwegian archipelago, is an island covered in ice. On the island is a mountain. Inside the mountain is a vault. And inside the vault are more than one million seeds.

When Isla finds a unique seed pod in the forest at the end of her garden, she wants to keep it. But that night her mother tells her a story about the seed vault. Isla thinks the seeds inside the vault may be magic, but her mother says no. They are ordinary seeds that can live there for hundreds of years so children who haven’t been born yet will be able to grow and eat the foods we love. The vault opens three times a year, so they keep the pod safe.

When the time comes, they fly over white mountainous meringue-like peaks and land in the town of Longyearbyen where they stay amid the long polar night. As they travel across the ice, they spy the lights of the seed vault. Upon entering, they discover seeds from all over the globe, from White Eagle corn from the Cherokee nation, to kangaroo grass from Australia. Here, Isla’s seed will be safe.

There is so much in this lovely warm story that helps us learn about the seed vault, and comes with so many important positive messages, from environmental to climate to learning about different places. Lots of fodder for discussion in the classroom or at home. The last page tells us more about the seed vault. You might like to visit seedvault.no

Don’t miss The Garden at the End of the World.

Reviewed by Merle Morcom
Age Guide 4+