As a young boy, Takeboki finds work as the temple Flower Keeper, sweeping the paths of the Japanese garden clean of fallen cherry blossoms and leaves. But this is considered to be child’s work, and as Takeboki grows older, his family encourages him to find more suitable grown-up work— work that will pay more money. Takeboki will not leave his beloved garden because he delights in knowing that he makes the garden a beautiful and serene retreat for the monks. Takeboki knows that he is rich beyond words because the charms of the garden and a job well done are riches greater than gold to him. lvb

Young Takeboki needs a job and the monks in the temple need a flower keeper - so Takeboki sets to work, sweeping up flowers and leaves and creating swirling miniature worlds of his own in the temple garden. As the years go by, others ask him: Don't you want a better job? But as the seasons shift, each as beautiful as the last, Takeboki knows the pleasures of nature and of humbly doing a job well. He is happy.

Luminous collage illustrations created from delicate Japanese papers by a Caldecott Honor artist bring to life this thought-provoking tale that, with its Zen Buddhist sensibility, has much to say about work, wisdom, and the joy of being true to oneself.