Lucy's grand father lives in the country and loves to garden. Teaching Lucy to plant and appreciate the earth and all it yields, he credits Lob for some of the harvest. Lob is a green man as old as the earth, seen only by sensitive people.

When Lucy observes Lob from the corner of her eyes, she feels blessed. Lob imparts a good feeling to those who respect him.

When Lucy's beloved grand father dies, and the cottage is torn down to make way for a large development of houses, Lucy worries about Lob.

Living in London, Lucy obsesses. As Lob intuitively makes his journey from the cottage to London, along the way he meets some nasty people who cage him and try to harm him. These passages are strongest when we see the dark side of Lob, portrayed as a feral creature unafraid of snarling, biting and spitting.

The story, augmented with the black and white illustrations of Pam Smy, is delightful. ( )