A Talking Book, to Chat About Art

Hieronymus Bosch was a painter from long ago with a big imagination. He created a very famous painting called The Garden of Earthly Delights. Now while you or I might think that a garden full of delights would include sweets, scooters and party tooters, Hieronymus Bosch had some very strange ideas about what would go in his garden!

Your mission is to decide why Hieronymous Bosch put so many funny things in his garden. You get extra hugs if you can find all the things in the picture above! Every time you do, you are allowed to say “Oh Hieronymus Bosch!” as loudly as you like.

 

Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch

This duck has a beak made of two silver spoons.

Only, have you ever tried to eat something with the wrong end of the spoon?

I think this duck would have a lot of trouble eating yoghurt! What do you think?

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!
Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - bird with a spoon for a beak

This owl looks like he’s dancing, with lots of legs and arms.

Or perhaps he’s just sitting on a big pink egg, while people dance beneath him.

Have you ever done either of these things? (I don’t imagine you have…)

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!

Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - owl with legs and arms

These ladies were having a lovely game of volleyball in a flower,

Until a bird with a long beak came and spiked it.

Now what will they play, without a ball, and all squished together in a flower like that?

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - people playing volleyball from a flowerI’ve always thought it would be fun to ride an elephant,

But this monkey looks like he wishes he took the bus instead.

What do you think he’s sad about?

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!

Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - monkey riding an elephant

These people found a transparent umbrella to use in case it rains.

But I can’t see the handle. Can you?

How are they holding their umbrella up?

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - people under an umbrella

There’s a unicorn in the garden, but it must be hard to drink

Without your horn getting wet.

What do you think happens to a unicorn when its horn gets wet?

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - unicorn drinking Why is this bear up a tree?

Is it climbing up or climbing down?

Why is it in a tree at all?

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - bear up a tree Have you ever seen a blue porcupine in a bubble?

How do you think he got inside, without the bubble popping?

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - porcupine in a bubble Ah! Some playing cards!

What game do you think they were playing in the garden

To have thrown their cards down like this?

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - playing cards This spotted leopard seems very proud to have caught a lizard.

What do you think he plans to do with the lizard?

What do you think the lizard is saying?

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - leopard with a lizard If I had a giant owl I would certainly give it a big cuddle like this man is doing.

What would you do if you had a giant owl?

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!

Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - man hugging an owl

Have you ever tried to stand on your head with someone else?

How about balancing upside down, like these two people are doing?

Is it as easy as it looks?

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - two people upside down

These birds are all in a hurry to get somewhere

But they seem to be taking the long way.

What do you think the first bird said,

To get the rest of the birds to follow it like that?

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!

Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - flocks of birds ascending

Look at this man’s face. Is that the face you’d make if a pig were trying to kiss you?

But what if the pig was wearing a hat, almost like a person?

Would you let it kiss you then?

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - pig kissing man Every time you’re hungry, you might think of this kind bird

Who imagines people are her babies, and brings them giant berries…

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - bird feeding berry to people And who doesn’t want to go riding on a phoenix that’s caught a bear,

While holding a tree with a bird in it?

Do you think it would be easy to do?

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!
Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - man riding a bird If there’s one thing better than ice-skates, it’s ice-skates the size of a boat.

And if there’s one thing better than ice-skates the size of a boat, it’s a platypus on ice-skates.

And what’s better than that? Can you think of anything?

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - little people on big ice skates Two people set sail in a pomegranate.

Their heron is also enjoying himself.

Have you ever had a ride in a boat that was made from a piece of fruit?

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - people in a pomegranate boat Three black crows find ladies’ heads a very comfortable place to sit.

Why do you think a lady’s head might be a comfortable place for a crow?

What might be the disadvantages of such an arrangement?

Oh Hieronymus Bosch!Children's search book - The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch - ladies with birds on their heads

Well done! You did it!

You’ve found some of the funny things in Hieronymus Bosch’s garden.

What other funny things did you see there?

What would you put in your own Garden of Earthly Delights?

SHORT STORY FOR KIDS WRITTEN BY HATTIE STAMP

ILLUSTRATED BY HIERONYMUS BOSCH