This is a poem story about Madam Zucchini and The Gardener. They get multiple surprises when they discover what is happening in Madam Zucchini’s Garden of Surprises during the evening hours. The Gardener receives a BirdCamTM for Christmas and the nocturnal Night Marauder adventure begins. Just how many Night Marauders are there? They seek the answer to this and other questions. The story develops into an investigation of what is happening at night. Madam Zucchini and The Gardener have had no clue about their visitors until the Christmas gift becomes the means for discovery! This poem story is a nature and animal lover’s delight. It captures the essence of wilderness inside a well-populated suburban community. The housing lots are modest, large enough to attract only birds and unleashed dogs and stray cats. Yet, here Madam Zucchini and The Gardener find unusual guests-hence they named their garden, The Garden of Surprises.The photographs included in the story are the actual photographs taken by The Gardener with the BirdCamTM camera of the nocturnal activities of the critters that come to the patio for food. The vocabulary of the poem story is suitable for grade 6 and above. Older readers may also find the story amusing because it is written in a fun, witty and imaginative manner. Some words may need explanations and/or a dictionary. The structure of the poem is loose and non-conforming. It is an enjoyable read, filled with a growing anticipation of not knowing what to expect next.This poem story should provoke a serious discussion as to why the animals come to Madam Zucchini’s patio. After the poem story ends, there is an ecological epilogue as to the plight of our wild animal populations when land development pushes them out of their natural habitats. Their survival is in question once their environment dramatically changes with the suburban sprawl. It poses the question, should the animals be fed or not?
