🐝How Does Your Garden Grow? Five Picture Books Perfect for Spring

Tulips in Carl Schurz Park Spring 2020

I haven't gone out much this spring because of the coronavirus, but I have gone to help a friend with her garden, and I have walked around Carl Schurz Park across the street to see what the Conservancy there has been up to there. And then I came how and re-read some wonderful picture books about gardens and gardening that I would like to share with you.

Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood

by Tony Hillery, illustrated by Jessie Hartland

Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2020, 40 pages

This is the story of how one empty lot that was a dumping ground for whatever people wanted to get rid of - things like "wrecked couches, old TVs, broken bottles, and empty cans" - was turned into a wonderful community vegetable garden thanks to one new teacher at PS 175. Slowly, Mr. Tony began removing the trash, and when it was done, he brought in new, clean soil, along with seeds, tools and an invitation to Nevaeh, his student, and her friends to come help with the planting. But when their first attempt at growing food didn't work, they tried something different and it did work. Soon, they had a thriving farm right in the middle of New York City. And the best part of this story is that it is a true story, and that farm, called Harlem Grown, is still there, still thriving and growing, and still encouraging kids to participate...all in the heart of Harlem. This is a real feel good inspiring story written by the founder of Harlem Grown, with vibrant gouache illustrations that perfectly harmonize with the text. If you are inspired to start a garden similar to Harlem Grown. Mr. Tony has include a step by step guide along with additional resources. Happy planting!

Khalil and Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard Treasures

by Tricia Springstubb, illustrated by Elaheh Taherian

Candlewick Press, 2020, 32 pages

Khalil and his family live in the upstairs apartment of a two family house. Mr. Hagerty lives alone in the downstairs apartment. Summer has come and Mr. Hagerty has been working on his garden in the backyard, while Khalil has been hunting for some interesting bugs and rocks, or just laying in the grass reading a library book. Mr. Hagerty often helps Khalil with hard, unfamiliar words and Khalil helps Mr. Hagerty find his misplaced items. Gradually they become friends, even sharing chocolate cake and cold milk together when it gets too hot. But both are discouraged - Mr. Hagerty with his vegetable garden, Khalil with the lack of good buried treasure. One night, they both get an idea that is sure to make the other very happy. And not only do their ideas work, but they become even better friends, happily enjoying each other's company and celebrating with some more delicious chocolate cake. Springstubb's text is warm, layered, and straightforward, just like the friendship that develops between these two lonely people and Taherian's oil and colored pencil collage illustrations done in a predominately green palette really demonstrates that warmth and layering. I just love a good intergenerational picture books and so do my young readers, most of whom see their grandparents regularly. And my kids got a kick out of the ending. I was only sorry we couldn't explore the illustrations together, but we had to read it on Zoom.   

In a Garden by Tim McCanna,

illustrated by Aimée Sicuro

Simon & Schuster/ Paula Wiseman Books, 2020, 48 pages

The gentle rhyming text in this book celebrates the diversity of life in a community garden throughout the year, beginning in spring "In the earth / a single seed / sits beside a millipede."  through summer "Blooms of every shape and size / call to bees and butterflies," to autumn, winter and finally back to spring, when "Time goes by / and by / and then... / life returns / to start / again." McCanna shows young readers that there is so much activity in a garden, bugs and insects, their activity often unseen and unnoticed, are as busily at work as the children and adults. Flowers, insects and bugs are all named within the rhyme. My young readers and I were luckily enough to read this before we had to shelter at home, and they loved exploring each page and talking about everything there is to see. For example, one two page spread shows a mama bird bringing a tasty worm to her newly hatched babies in their nest, a squirrel running down the tree, a bird enjoying some green growing treats, and a butterfly going about her business all unnoticed by a little girl walking her dog. The seasonal illustrations are done in watercolor, ink, charcoal and Photoshop and the people are as diverse as the depicted vegetables, flowers and creatures. This book was rated A+ by my young readers.      

Thank You, Garden by Liz Garton Scanlon,

illustrated by Simone Shin

Beach Lane Books, 2020, 32 pages

"Garden ready / garden new / Garden so much / work to do!" Yes, gardens are a lot of work, but in the end they can be so rewarding. And that is exactly what this simple rhyming text picture book imparts to young readers. In this community garden, a group of diverse neighbors of all ages work all spring and summer for make this a successful garden, coming together at the end to enjoy the fruits of their labors. The text is repetitive and it only took a few reading for my kids to memorize the words and chime in. But despite the simple rhyme, there is much to explore here. The acrylic, watercolor, and Photoshop illustrations are done in a palette of garden greens and browns and have a somewhat folk art style to them. This is geared toward readers about age 3 and up and is a great opportunity to open a discussion with kids about being grateful for and appreciating the food they eat without being preachy.    

In the Garden written and illustrated by

Emma Giuliani

Princeton Architectural Press, 2020, 16 pages

Join Plum and her little brother Robin and explore with them all the wonders of their garden from the end of winter through to spring, summer, fall and finally to the return of winter, and including the features of each season. Every page in this oversized picture book for older readers gives details along with flaps to open and discover even more information, for example, what the inside of a bulb or flower looks like, or the parts of a seed. Young gardeners learn how to care for a garden, e.g. spreading mulch over the soil in winter, then spreading compost in the spring, setting up stakes for things like beans to climb as they grow, or knowing when to harvest and plan bulbs in the fall to flower in spring. Giuliani's language is accessible, even when she is using terms readers may never have heard before, and she even includes some of the processes that growing plants go through, like how cherry trees go from flower to fruit. This is the book I wish I had when I was a fourth grade classroom teacher and we went on a class trip to the New York Botanical Gardens every year.

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW? 

The Year of the Garden by Andrea Cheng, illustrated by Patrice Barton

Fans of Anna Wang will be happy to see this last book which Andrea Cheng was working on at the time of her death on December 26, 2015. The Year of the Garden is a prequel to the three Anna Wang novels already published.

Anna, 8, and her family have just moved from their apartment in Manor Court to a home of their own, though they are still in Cincinnati. And now, Anna has a yard in the need some care.

Accompanying her mother to her Saturday job cleaning the apartment of elderly Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd, Anna is happy to be given a copy of The Secret Garden along with some normal seed packets from Mrs. Shepherd’s garden. 

The next day, reading The Secret Garden in the yard, she meet Laura, who has also just moved to the same neighborhood. Both girls are happy to find out that they will in third grade together at their new school. Anna and Laura begin to plan a garden using Mrs. Shepherd’s seeds, but once school begins, Laura loses interest. Instead, she decides to join the soccer team, making new friends there. Feeling a bit alone, Anna worries that their friendship may not last. 

But finding a baby bunny in the yard brings them together again in a common cause to save the bunny. Unable to find the rabbit’s mother, the girls make a bed in a cardboard box, and put the bunny on the porch. Laura knows something about saving rabbits, and tells Anna they need to fed this baby some dog or cat milk. When none is available at the pet store, Laura’s mother drives the girls to her aunt’s in Indiana, who is an old hand at rescuing baby animals. 

And so Anna and Laura spend part of their weekend at taking turns feeding their bunny with a eye dropper. Saving the bunny brings the two girls closer together, and Anna realizes that she can be friends with someone who doesn’t share all her interests, that a real friendship is based on acceptance and flexibility.

I always thought that Andrea Cheng’s Anna Wang series is perfect for readers at the chapter book level. Cheng seems to be able to identify just the right kinds of concerns and issues kids have, and The Year of the Garden is no different. Anna and Laura’s friendship hits some real bumps in the road that they have to work out. School is good for Anna, who likes it, but not for Laura, who lacks focus. 

Cheng also presents Anna’s Chinese culture with respect and understanding. Anna’s mother is a Chinese immigrant who is working hard to learn English, her father is Chinese American. And Laura and the reader are introduced to some Chinese traditions, such as receiving a red envelope or Hong bao for Chinese New Year’s (each Anna Wang book expands on Chinese traditions).

I did findThe Year of the Garden carried a nice theme of growing throughout the book - Anna (and Laura) growing as people and friends, a motherless bunny growing strong and healthy, Anna seeds growing in her garden. However, I felt the story was a little thin, as though it wasn’t really a finished novel, more like a draft. Despite that, I would still recommend it to Anna Wang fans, but don’t expect the same level of story that you find in the previous novels.

Patrice Barton’s numerous black and while spot illustrations throughout help to fortify the story and add so much to it. 

This book is recommended for readers age 6+
This book was an EARC received from NetGalley

The Night Gardener written and illustrated by Terry Fan and Eric Fan

William's street, Grimloch Lane, is pretty dull and gray to look at and could certainly use a little color and some cheering up.  Things are so dull that William doesn't even notice the stranger with a mustache walking down his street carrying a ladder and a rolled up clothe over his shoulder on evening.

But the next morning, William and the rest of the people on Grimloch Lane can't believe their eyes: overnight, just outside the Grimloch Orphanage where William loves, the tree in the yard has turned into a leafy owl.  It was like magic.

Soon, more and more trees are turned into topiaries night after night; there are cats, bunny rabbits, parakeets, an elephant, even a giraffe.  And the best part is that by transforming the trees into something different, the people of Grimloch Lane begin to come out of their homes and to talk with each other, and the next thing you know, their lives are transformed along with the trees.

Then, one day, as he is heading home, William spots a man with a ladder and wonders... Sure enough, he has discovered who is transforming all the trees and not only that, the Night Gardener teaches William how to turn trees into topiaries.

But as the season's change and the leaves fall, the trees revert back to just trees.  Now, however, William has a gift from the Night Gardener - his own pair of gardening shears and a newly learned skill.  When the next spring finally arrives, William puts his topiary skills to work, transforming Grimloch Lane and the people who live there once more.

I love a book that leaves me feeling really good about the world, and this one certainly did that.  In fact, as soon as I finished it, I went back and re-read the story, then went back and explored the illustrations.

The story itself is simple, the text is spare, but the message is powerful - one person can not only make a difference, but can teach others how to do the same.  It reminded me of that old proverb: give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.  

But it is the illustrations that really carried the book for me - in fact, this could almost be a wordless book.  From the gray graphite illustrations, to the gradual addition of color as more trees are finished and more people gather to look and socialize with each other, to the beautiful full color digitalized illustrations in a neighborhood that has come to life, each image let the story unfold quietly and gently.  Even the falling autumn leaves, and leafless trees, of winter continue to hold the promise that something exciting and magical is coming.

And if you look closely, you will notice that Grimloch Lane is a nicely diverse neighborhood.  The Night Gardener is a book that kids will definitely want to read and talk about again and again.  Don't be surprised if your young readers want to visit a real topiary garden.

This book is recommended for readers age 4+
This book was borrowed from a friend