Book Description

A vacant lot, rat-infested and filled with garbage, looked like no place for a garden. Especially to a neighborhood of strangers where no one seems to care. Until one day, a young girl clears a small space and digs into the hard-packed soil to plant her precious bean seeds. Suddenly, the soil holds promise: To Curtis, who believes he can win back Lateesha's heart with a harvest of tomatoes; to Virgil's dad, who seems a fortune to be made from growing lettuce; and even to Mariclea, sixteen and pregnant, wishing she were dead.

Thirteen very different voices--old, young, Haitian, Hispanic, tough, haunted, and hopeful tell one amazing story about a garden that transforms a neighborhood.

00-01 Utah Book Award (Gr. 7-12)

Reviews (54)

seedfolks
Seedfolks by Pual Fleischman is a story of racial divide changed to community through the actions of a little girl. It all starts when she plants beans in honor of her dead father. People take notice, and one by one, people in the neighborhood begin to plant various crops from their native lands. Eventually they build a strong, protective, and friendly community that grows along side the garden.
The story is told through the eyes of 13 different characters each explaining their diverse background, what they've seen in the garden, and why they're now involved. The style makes the book a quick read, and because the characters are not directly revisited, it's not confusing.
Overall, this book's inspirational sense of true community is not only achieved in the fictional garden, but ideally in day-to-day life. Seadfolks leaves you with an uplifting, warm and fuzzy all over feeling, and a strong desire to make change.

Seedfolks Review
Seedfolks is takes place in a diverse community in Cleveland, Ohio. It is basically a story about a young Vietnamese girl that plants lima beans in a vacant lot filled with garbage to please her dead father. An older lady sees the girl through her window. Expecting that the girl is up to no good, she sends one of her friends out to investigate. The friend comes back and reports that the girl had only planted beans and that they wouldn't grow if he didn't help her take care of them. Other members of the community see that someone has removed all of the garbage from the lot and notice that someone was growing plants. Slowly, everyone begins to plant things in their own section of the garden. People begin to talk and get to know each other and help to transform the neighborhood.
One of the strengths of the story is the way each of the characters tells their own personal story but it all ties back to the garden. Even though there are many different characters, you never get thrown off track. This book is short and to the point with a good message. One of the weaknesses of the story is the way it ended. You find out that once winter comes, the garden looks run down and no one is really taking care of it; their owners have dug up most of the plants. You're kind of left wondering whether the garden is ever rejuvenated after spring returns.
I really enjoyed this book. I like the way this story is put together and the way each of the characters is of a different ethnicity. The fact that this book can be read in one day is also a plus. Seedfolks shows how one simple act can bring a community together. I would recommend this story to anyone who is looking for something positive to read.

Seeds of hope
I loved Seedfolks, with its way of bringing you to see other people's side of the story. It was amazing, the way Paul Fleischman used rich descriptions and amazing details to bring you into the hearts and thoughts of an entire neighborhood. I read this book when I was in fifth grade, and since, I have always remembered the characters and plots from this remarkable story. Every now and then, I find myself in a situation like one in this book, and I always find myself asking, "What would Virgil do here?" or "If I were Curtis, what would I do now?" This is one of the best books I have ever read. And I read quite a lot, so that's saying something!

Not for MY 10-year-old!
After reading the entire book, I've concluded that one chapter doesn't belong--at least not for elementary school students: The Maricella chapter. In it, a 16-old-girl is considering abortion after realizing the baby she loathes is making her look fat. She hasn't been invited to any parties since she started to show. She wishes her baby would die. She talks about leaving its body in a dumpster.
This has NOTHING to do with culteral diversity. Okay, so she is a member of two minority groups. And sure, in the end she decides that she--like the garden they've planted--is part of a never-ending cycle of life and that maybe she'll keep her baby after all.
Why does a 10-year-old need to know about such a negative societal situation such as this? Please, parents, know what your child is reading. Middle school students would probably be fine with this. Anyone younger than 7th grade, no way.

Intertwined lives
I enjoyed this story of a community that comes together because of the act of one little girl. The book celebrates the ability of a group to work with our strentghs to fill in the weaknesses of others. Also, it illustrates how people approach situations differently and bring new ideas and new approaches to others. I teach sixth grade and plan to use the book with my classes this school year in an effor to help celebrate diversity. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

Gardening!
I like that book on Mrs. Spitzer's Garden and I gave it to my grade 5 teacher from 1999 & 2000 named Mrs. Laureen Murphy for her husband for christmas!

I like gardening and this book.

Mrs. Spitzer's Garden-a hit at our house!
Cute, cute, cute. This is a darling book with delightful illustrations. The flowers have faces, which fascinate our 2 year old. She just loves it. It's colorful and cheerful and a real delight to read. It's one of the first ones she chooses to read before bedtime. A great book for toddlers and parents too!

Teachers, you must start the year with this book!
What a joy to read! The illustrations are beautiful and add details to the reading. It's summertime and the principal gives Mrs. Spitzer some seeds to plant in her garden. She does all the right things and up come the sprouts. Plants and children--a wonderful analogy of what goes on in a classroom during the year. Teachers, you can't miss making the text-to-self connections. Kids love to hear this book too. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Green thumbs and non-green thumbs alike will fall in love with Roots, Shoots, Buckets, & Boots, a remarkably fun and informative introduction to the wonderful world of gardening--and more specifically, gardening with children. Learn how to make everything from a pizza garden (pizza-pie-shaped, with herbs and vegetables for a fabulous pizza at harvest time), to a sunflower house (a secret hideaway with stately sunflowers and lovely creeping morning glories), to a moon garden ("Fragrance is the color of night"). Chock full of helpful hints, clever and artistic touches, and intriguing "recipes" (Moth Broth and Compost Sandwich, to name a few), this idea book will spark creativity and a lifelong fascination with gardening. Nine concepts for theme gardens are presented in a clearly defined yet non-rigid manner that is just right for encouraging young gardeners. Sharon Lovejoy, award-winning author and illustrator of several gardening books, including Hollyhock Days: Garden Adventures for the Young at Heart, has a true knack for working with all kinds of living things, including children. She understands how quickly young people will be turned off by inflexible rules, and instead encourages budding green thumbs to experiment and explore, while providing them with useful guidelines and helpful information.Wonderfully earthy watercolors make this cozy book even more welcoming. (All ages) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Rediscover the joy of playing in the dirt
Sharon Lovejoy probably wasn't the very first gardener to think of creating fairy gardens, pizza gardens, sunflower houses and flower mazes; but I'll give her credit for introducing them to the gardening public like no one else had before or since.

ROOTS, SHOOTS, BUCKETS AND BOOTS is a delightful introduction to gardening for children and the people who cherish them. The book is grounded on the idea that gardening should be shared with kids at a young age, the better to nurture a lifetime of healthy pleasure and respect for nature: therefore, learning how to grow things should be a fun experience, without a lot of restrictions, rules and long waiting to see results. Every project is scaled for children -- with a little help from parents - to be quick, do-able and fun.

Parents will appreciate that the theme gardens in RSB&B will not send them running to the local garden center to charge up a small fortune in tools and materials. In keeping with organic horticultural practices, the author explains simple, homemade composting techniques and recipes to build soil and feed plants. Whenever possible, readers are encouraged to use found objects around the house and garage for cultivating and planting: she gives "permission" to dig and work the soil with spoons and forks, pot up potatoes in colanders and herb gardens in old gardening boots, and find new purpose for rusty old wagons as movable feasts of annual flowers.

Kids can't help but learn quite a bit from their experiences in sowing and growing. The author opens up a world of wonderment that tantalizes kids to learn from the changes and growth taking place. She subtly encourages kids to watch for all the insect and animal life their gardens will attract. RSB&B is densely packed with fun factoids like, "Run your fingers over the pumpkin vines. Farmers use them to protect the plots of other crops" and "If you like the taste of licorice, you won't be able to pass your fennel without nibbling. Fennel is called the weight-watcher's herb because it satisfies an appetite."

Designed with humor and illustrated with charm, RSB&B will prompt people of all ages to rediscover why they love playing outside in the sun, fresh air and dirt.

Loved it so much I bought 3 more as gifts!
It's beautifully illustrated! My 9-year old daughter couldn't wait to choose a gardening project and begin. Whether you have lots of space or just a couple of old boots, you can have a wonderfully creative and lovely garden. The author begins by telling you about the plants that are suitable for children and then takes them on a gardening extravaganza - through worms, scarecrown,water, soil, the Zumi Indians - you name it, it's in this book. Whether an avid gardener or not, your family will enjoy this one for many years to come!

So you want a fun backyard for your children...
then this is the book for you! We just bought a house with lots of backyard and I was looking for a book to help me turn some of it into fun space for our 2 girls where they can do some gardening of their own. This book has great ideas for both big and small spaces. A lot of the ideas can be used in part, and it has definitely turned on the "creative juices" in our heads. The sunflower house alone is AWSOME,and worth purchasing the book just to get that plan! Moms and Dads will enjoy spending time in it as much as the kids!

Great for beginning gardeners to the seasoned gardeners - helps you plan your garden from start to finish with tips on how to get your kids involved and enjoying it. I highly recommend this book.

What a Treat!
I bought this book on a whim and was I ever delighted with the results! For the experienced or the beginning gardener, this book really gives one some concrete and specific ideas to get out there with your children and dig in the dirt! My 5-year-old daughter and I immediately began looking at seed catalogs so we could plant the first of the many unique garden ideas, a sunflower playhouse with a morning glory roof! Wow! We can't wait... This book was so inspirational I have already purchased more for gifts. Very charming and practical.

Please buy this book!
I am a student teacher and I bought this book to use in my classroom and with my own child. I love this book. It is hands-on, natural teaching at its finest. The ideas are not very expensive and basics are included with tips on how to work with your child to cultivat a love and respect for earth. No place is to large or small for this book (you just have to have space for a glove if that is as small as you can go) Your child will be able to learn that food is grown not just bought. ... Read more

Book Description

Julie is a happy little girl who lives in Paris, but she wishes she could walk in a country garden. Julie is pleased when her mother decides to take her to visit the most wonderful garden in the world, owned by a great friend of the family. They arrive at their destination, and for this little girl it is like walking in a dreamy world where twisting plants grow as tall as trees. When Julie’s dog runs away, she asks the gardener to help find her pet, and soon she and the gardener are friends. But this amiable, bearded old man is a very unusual gardener, for not only does he cultivate his many plants, he also paints beautiful pictures of them. Julie has made a friend of the great impressionist painter, Claude Monet. Based on a true story about the daughter of another fine artist, Berthe Morisot, this charmingly illustrated picture book includes reproductions by author-illustrator Laurance Anholt of a famous waterlilies painting, which Monet completed in his garden at Giverny, a few miles from Paris. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (27)

A Beautiful Collection of Letters
Lydia Grace is not only a gardener, but a writer of letters. This lovely book is a collection of her precious letters to beloved family members, and through them her story unfolds. David Small's simple but powerful illustrations bring Sarah Stewart's story of this brave little girl to life. What a great combination of author and illustrator. Be sure to read "The Library", as well.

A delightful story thay wiil grow in your heart
Lydia Grace Finch has been sent to to the city to live with her Uncle Jim while her family struggles with hard times. Uncle Jim does not smile and Lydia Grace finds the big city very, very big. Soon she is able to make friends with the workers at her uncle's bakery and the neiighbors in her building. With a child's enthusiasm and optimism, Lydia works to bring a little bit of the farm back home to her new city home. She also hopes to see a smile cross her Uncle Jim's face one day. Slowly, she is able to transform the roof of her apartment into a magical place and win that coveted smile. Sarah Stewart has written a delightful story of a child's optimism and the power of a smile. Davis Small's illustrations are garenteed to bring a smile to your face. A wonderful book to read aloud.

Grow for me
There are good David Small books and there are bad David Small books. Good David Small books are usually (though by no means always) written AND illustrated by David Small himself. Bad or poorly created David Small books are usually written by someone else, using Mr. Small's talents as a kind of afterthought. The exception to this rule (and all rules, as you well know, must have exceptions) is the pairing of David Small and his wife Sarah Stewart. After creating the fabulous "Money Tree" and the bibliophilic, but somewhat disturbing, "The Library", the two combined their talents yet again to write a gentle story of love, gardening, and family.

The year: 1935, and Lydia Grace Finch is being sent from the country to go live with her Uncle Jim in the city. Lydia Grace faces this challenge with resolve and a little sadness. After all, she is leaving her family behind, the effects of the Great Depression having taken their toll. The city is a gray dirty place and Uncle Jim is kind but he never smiles. Soon, it's Spring again and Lydia has found a place to call her own (the building's abandoned roof). Her number one goal is to get Uncle Jim to smile, and she's fairly certain that the answer to this goal is just around the corner.

What Stewart and Small have accomplished here is an evocative sense of metropolitan dank and pastoral greenery. The pictures are deeply moving sometimes, and gently humorous others. One picture that particularly took by breath away was the shot of Lydia Grace standing in the train station alone. She is singled out, a blue dress wearing, green hat donning, red-haired little girl. The rest of the scene is all gray slashes of people walking in the distance and filthy light streaming through huge windows overhead. It's a gorgeous picture. Uncle Jim is just the right companion for the spunky little heroine too, looking like nothing so much as a 1930s version of Gene Shalit (sans the hair). What I appreciated most about this story was that it accepted the fact that some people in this world express their emotions and feelings differently from others. Not to give anything away, but Uncle Jim never smiles. And you wouldn't want him to either. Human beings can place importance in other things, like hard work and discipline. Uncle Jim is one such person.

If I have any objections to this book at all, it comes at the expense of Lydia Grace herself. This is a wonderful character and a great gal, this is not a child. David Small has, for reasons best known to himself, drawn a girl that looks like nothing so much as a shrunken adult. I've never had this objection to any of Mr. Small's characters before, so it was a bit of a shock to me to have such an objection now. Just the same, the eloquent story and excellent evocative scenes more than make up for a flaw that, let's admit it, probably only I could see.

Gardeners get short shrift in books, especially books for kids (unless you count stories like, "The Carrot Seed"). In this particular case, I think anyone,regardless of whether or not they can tell a petunia from a tulip, will enjoy this book. Its pace is a little slower and quieter than that found in other picture books, but for some kids it's just the right combination of simplicity and sweetness.

A Delight for children and grown-ups alike!
This wonderful book is at the upper scale of the "picture book" variety, aimed at good beginning readers. The vibrant illustrations earned the author/illustrator the prestigeous Caldecot Honor Medal. Any child slightly beyond the "Dr. Seus" series will be delighted with "The Gardener". A story that will make readers and listeners smile,laugh and filled with joy. A rare treat in the overwhelming market of childrens books.*****

This is a CLASSIC!
This book has such an unexpected gut-level impact on everyone who reads it! I have read it aloud to people of all ages and there is never a dry eye in the room! Each of the short letters begins with a date which will be meaningful to anyone who lived through the depression. Oddly enough, disasters and hard times seem to bring out the best in people and this book sets out to show just how that is true. Lydia Grace Finch is such a universally loveable little character - she is unforgettable! The text and the illustrations are so perfectly suited to each other - they seem to have been created by the same person -but they aren't! (Just a "marriage of true minds" I guess.)The book gets at the heart of what a family can give a child even without money - what it means to be poor and what it means to be rich.
This is a lovely gift book for children or adults and I hope it stays in print for a long, long time! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The smells of the great outdoors are captured in DK's small, sturdyboard book Scratch and Sniff Garden. "What can you smell in the garden? Is the scent of the rose sweet?" the book begins. When you scratch the lovely yellow rose, it does indeed smell quite realistically roselike. Kids can also experience the pungent smells of lavender, a log, a newly mowed lawn, and a bunch of mint. This is a great way to introduce your kids to the aromatic wonders of the plant kingdom. And, DK's Scratch and Sniff Food is fun, too. (Baby to preschool) ... Read more

Reviews (7)

My son likes it (still)
I bought this book out of curiosity, and I am glad that I did, because my son liked it at first sight, and he still likes it even after a year. The book is really well made - sturdy, not heavy, safe, and of course smells nice. I was worried about the smell being a little bit toxic for a small child, but it did not bother my little one (he was 9 months old). He doesn;t particularly use the book for its smell, but he loves opening each page (I don't know why). The book is so well made that it must be fun for him to try to open and flip the pages. But I only bought this particular one, and I don't plan to buy any other ones... since my son doesn't seem interested in smelling the book.

Full of garden scents
DK scratch and sniff books won't disappoint you. They are by far the best scratch and sniff books around (not that there is a huge market of them). The scents last a long long time and the photos and text are very clear. My 3 year old follows along with the words and then tries to read the story himself after we are done.

smells as good as rose
My 17-month-old found much to like immediately--each page was enthusiastically checked out. The scents are realistic and long-lasting, and the photos help tie everything together. A rose, mint, lavendar, cedar log, and freshly mown lawn put you out-of-doors no matter what time of year. Very stimulating.

A lovely book to share with your young garden lover
Another quality series of books from DK. Good sturdy pages for little hands, wonderful clear and bright photography (no illustrations) and easy to read vocabularly. A wonderful learning tool for your baby and toddler. YOu can read to them, point things out and get to smell something as well. We've been enjoying this series of books for over two years and after lots of "scratching" we are still enjoying lots of "sniffing".

Very nice
This is a great idea. The only disapointment is that it is too short (in content). The photos and scents are lovely and my daughter loves it. They could easily add more content that would allow for disscussion with one's child and more pictures. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (26)

Green Angel Review
Green Angel by Alice Hoffman is a mystical story about a 15 year old named Green. Green has more than a green thumb. She is so in tune with the natural world that she can literally hear the green beans as they climb the vine and can coax the flowers into blooming. Green's world is forever changed when her family goes off to the city one day and never returns, victims of a horrible fire. Green's world, her garden and her heart are now covered with a thick layer of gray ash. With the help of a ghostly dog, a wise woman, and a mysterious hooded stranger Green is able to slowly clear away the ash. As the countryside begins to once again green up, she discovers that she herself has learned how to live in this strange new world.

Green Angel is a great book!
Green Angel is the story of a girl, Green, who loses her parents and sister in a fire. She is left with only her sister's terrier, Onion. She inks tattoos of bats, ravens, and roses into her skin, wears her father's heavy jacket and boots, and begins to call herself "Ash". It takes an experience with a ghostly white dog, a mute boy, and an old neighbor to turn her back into Green.

Green Angel is an excellent book and has a good moral to trust in you. You should read it!

The guilt of a survivor
GREEN ANGEL by Alice Hoffman is a beautiful tale - a long poem, really - teeming with lyrical prose that is reminiscent of Francesca Lee Block's books. At a mere 120 pages, it doesn't seem to last long enough.

Green was once a calm, serene, and quiet young girl. One day, after her family goes off to sell produce for profit without letting her tag along, Green is angered. But her anger changes to sorrow when she finds they won't be coming home. A catastrophic conflagration has swept the earth, taking lives. It leaves behind black ash, making the world a dark and ominous place in which the daily task of living is a challenge. Now Green, filled with guilt, must be self-sufficient, despite the fact that, at the very same time, she must recover from her loss and her guilt that refuses to subside.

I felt Hoffman's poetic tale to be a downer - it's not once sugary sweet or overly heartwarming, sappy, or happy. Green changes to Ash, as does her personality. She dons black clothing adorned with thorns. Drawings scrawled in black ink cover her arms and legs. The pain of the thorns pricking her flesh does not faze her, nor does the remainder of the adolescent population, happy on their parents' liquor and dancing all night.

Readers suffer with Green as she, a believable protagonist, picks up the pieces of her life in a courageous effort to move on. Her story is told poetically, beautifully, and eloquently, therefore flowing naturally. Despite being short page-wise, it isn't an easy read. Ages 12 and up recommended.

Green Angel
Do you like books that seem tragic but turn out good in the end? Well, Green Angel is the book for you. Green (the main character) is a shy teenager who loves gardening, which is how she got the nickname Green. She has a little sister who is the exact opposite of Green. One day her family had to go to town but Green stayed behind. There was a huge fire and she never saw her family again. Green was half blinded by the ashes in her eyes from the fire. After that her life totally changed. She changed her name to Ash and selfdestructed. She chopped her hair off, gave herself black tattoos, and messed with her clothes. When she went into town to trade, people thought that they could take advantage of her beacuse she was half blind. Deep inside, Green was still there. She would go to her neighbor and clean her house because the old woman couldn't do it. Ash took in and fed wild animals. She also took in a boy her age who wouldn't talk or show his face. She called in Diamond. Will green ever return to Ash's body?
I totally liked this book. It made me think of how people deal with deperession and anger. This book is for anyone who likes happy endings. So stop reading this review and go buy the book!

Very, Very Good...
I loved this book! It's about a girl who loses her family. She is very shy, so I could relate to her. I strongly reccomend this book! ... Read more

Book Description

When a little boy plants a carrot seed, everyone tells him it won't grow. But when you are very young, there are some things that you just know, and the little boy knows that one day a carrot will come up. So he waters his seed, and pulls the weeds, and he waits ...

First published in 1945 and never out of print, this timeless combination of Ruth Krauss's simple text and Crockett Johnson's eloquent illustrations creates a triumphant and deeply satisfying story for readers of all ages.

Reviews (19)

simple book about perseverance
This simple, short book is about a boy who plants a carrot seed. Everyone tells him it will not grow, but he perseveres and in the end is vindicated. A nice (and important) lesson for children. Illustrations are by Crockett Johnson, the author's husband, who gave us the Harold and the Purple Crayon books.

The granddaddy of all picture books in America
In his essay "Ruth Krauss and Me," author Maurice Sendak says "that perfect picture book, The Carrot Seed, the granddaddy of all picture books in America, a small revolution of a book that permanently transformed the face of children's book publishing. The Carrot Seed, with not a word or a picture out of place, is dramatic, vivid, precise, concise in every detail. It springs fresh from the real world of children."

This is a timeless classic that has been known and loved by children and parents for years.

A young boy is told by his parents, competition and his big brother that his carrot will not grow. After a long time of pulling weeds, watering and patience the carrot finally grows, and it is huge.

The author Ruth Krauss was born in 1901 is also the author of A Hole Is To Dig; I'll Be You and You Be Me; Charlotte and the White Horse; and many other childrens classics.

Naysayers
I do not feel the important lesson from this book is simple perserverance (as others have said). Nor do I feel it is about blind faith. The lesson I take from it is perseverance in the face of all the naysayers in life who would bring you down with them. Dare to dream big, work hard, and have faith in oneself in the face of adversity. This is the only children's book I have seen with such a theme.

Sweet without being overwhelming
When the New York Public Library announced its "100 Children's Picture Books Everyone Should Know" for 2003, I had never heard of "The Carrot Seed". It isn't as if the author and illustrator are unknown. After all, illustrator Crockett Johnson welded the pen that created "Harold's Purple Crayon". Yet the book recommended on this list is certainly one of his lesser known titles.

"The Carrot Seed" is a simple story of a boy and his burgeoning carrot. Informed by his family members, one by one, that his carrot will not grow and that any actions to help it are useless, he ignores them bravely. Initially when I looked at this book I was certain that its protagonist sported a yarmulke. This is not the case. I believe it is more of a jaunty cap. The book itself is very straightforward, with accompanying pictures of relative simplicity. Additionally, the payoff at the end is sweet and funny, but not particularly unexpected. You're not going to find any real surprises in this book and, admittedly, I'm a little amazed that it's so well remembered. Much of its popularity stems, I'm sure, from the lesson learned. This is a book about the benefits of perseverance. If that's your cup of tea, so be it. But if you'd like to delve into some of Crockett's better works, check out "Harold's Purple Crayon" or his little known (but lovely) comic strip "Barnaby".

My favorite book then, my favorite book now
My parents gave me the paperback version of this book as a child many years ago (which I still have), and I recall reading it over and over and over during my formative years. My mom bought me the hardback version again when I graduated from high school. I am nearly 30 years old now, and I still gravitate toward the very simple yet profound message it teaches all of us: have a quiet childlike faith, trust, persist, persevere and you will be richly rewarded. Today, I run a $2.5 million a year professional organization, and we recently completed a large corporate visioning project for the next several years. I read Krauss' book at the close of the first phase of our vision meeting. My colleagues--with a cumulative total of nearly 75 years of professional business experience--spontaneously applauded at the end of the book, no joke! I also purchased several copies of the book to give to my team as a reminder of the core values it espouses--simple, yet profound values that will guide us and lead us to the next level. It is a book of timeless value that touches my heart each time I read it--and one that you, your child, your family, your peers, or your colleagues will treasure for years to come. Buy it and share it with others, if you haven't done so already. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Clever Book!
My 3 year old daughter loves this book! We borrowed it from our local library, read it 2-3 times daily, and had great trauma returning it. It has now been a month since it went back and she is still talking about it and has it on her christmas list. She has impressed the neighbors by asking if they had any morning glories or delphiniums and she was eager to help me plant my bulbs and explore all the flowers in our yard. She has always been a flower lover, but this book really stimulated her interest.

Planting A Rainbow
My son and I BOTH loved this book. It was both fun to read and informative. The pictures were brilliant with color and seemed to bounce off the page. Every color of the rainbow was represented. After we finished reading the book, my son wanted to plant his own rainbow. It awakened his curiousity. ... Read more

Amazon.com

After years of dreaming of planting a garden, Mr. McGreely finally takeshoe and watering can in hand and makes his dream come true. Unfortunately forhim (but luckily for readers), this is not the happily-ever-after part of thestory. Late one night, three hungry bunnies appear: "Tippy-tippy-tippy, Pat!Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!" The next morning finds our farmer gnashing his teethover the gnawed sprouts. So he builds a small wire fence. That night... "Muncha!Muncha! Muncha!" So Mr. McGreely builds a tall wooden wall. You get the idea.Young readers will hang on every word until they find out, once and for all, whowill win the battle of the broccoli.

Packed with repetitive and onomatopoeic phrases, Candace Fleming's tale of managainst nature will keep kids giggling--it may even inspire them to chomp on afew carrots themselves! G. Brian Karas's lively illustrations in gouache andpencil are full of visual wit, as the audacious "twitch-whiskers" patientlywatch Mr. McGreely at his seemingly futile endeavors. (Ages 3 to 7) --EmilieCoulter ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Who's Got the Veggies.....
"For years Mr. McGreely dreamed of planting a garden. He dreamed of getting his hands dirty, of growing yummy vegetables, and of gobbling them all up..." This was finally the year. He bought his supplies, and got to work preparing his garden and planting his seeds. "...I'll soon fill my tummy with crisp, fresh veggies." Unfortunately, he was not the only vegetable lover in the neighborhood. That night three hungry bunnies found Mr McGreely's garden and made themselves at home. "Tippy- Tippy- Tippy, Pat! Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!" The next morning, when Mr McGreely saw the damage, he was angry. So he built a nice wire fence around his garden to keep the bunnies out. But would this simple solution work..... Candace Fleming has written a wonderful chain of events story with a clever and surprising twist at the end, that's sure to keep little ones giggling with each page turn. Her delightful text, full of energy and marvelous sound effects, is enhanced by Brian Karas' bold, expressive, and humorous artwork. Youngsters will revel in all the fun as they watch the battle between gardener and bunnies escalate to the ridiculous, from simple, small wire fence, to taller wooden fence, to moat, and finally maximun security tower complete with barbed wire and lights. Perfect for kids 3-7, Muncha, Muncha, Muncha is a rip roarin', manic, crowd pleaser, and a picture book children will beg to read over and over again.

Three hungry bunnies.
How does Mr. McGreely keep three hungry bunnies away from his garden? Well, in MUNCHA MUNCHA MUNCHA he finds an answer -- or does he? This book is just meant to be read aloud, as the repetitive words become fun sound effects. The colorful illustrations of the three bunnies are consistently drawn throughout, letting you follow them one at a time if you want. It's a short, oversized book. And it's really funny. Kids (recommended for ages 3-7 but you'll have just as much fun as they do) will want to hear it again and again for the sounds. Ham it up!

great sound narrative
My 18 month old son likes this book and the repetitive nature of "tippy tippy tippy pat" is great - when we get to that part, my son always starts saying "tippy tippy tippy..."

The illustrations are lovely too and we use it as a game to find the bunnies (they hide in some of the pictures). Overall, it's a nice book and a nice break from all the Dr. Seuss we read (although we love him too!).

It is I, captain vegetable...
At last! A book that secretly promotes the benefits of "yummy vegetables" without drumming the lesson into the heads of innocent children! Candace Fleming has penned a fun frolicsome tale of bunnies, gardeners, and ingenious methods of munching. In this tale, Mr. McGreely (why is it that bunnies always run into conflicts with men sporting Irish or Scottish names?) decides to fill his tiny backyard plot with vegetables of his own growing. As his veggies grow, however, three inspired rabbits set about eating the delicious greens. The more complex Mr. McGreely's defenses grow (walls, moats, and eventually an enormous maximum security system that defies belief) the more adept the bunnies become at scaling, burrowing, and otherwise getting past the blockages.

It's a little amazing that Mr. McGreely even HAS any vegetables left at the end of the tale, if the bunnies are so doggone hungry. I half expected the moral of the story to disintegrate into some preachy morality tale where Mr. McGreely learns that walls may keep out the bunnies but they also keep out the sun and the veggies die. As it happens, veggies aren't particularly upset by walls, though it becomes clear that Mr. McGreely truly has built them in vain. This is really just a classic story of the little guys beating the big guy through style and cunning.

Candace Flemings text is jumpy and bouncy (just like the hares themselves). Here's a two page spread of the text accompanying pictures of bunnies swimming the moat, scaling the walls, and settling down to eat.

"Tippy-tippy-tippy, pat!
Dive-paddle, splash! Splash! Splash!
Dig-scrabble,
Scratch! Scratch! Scratch!
Spring-hurdle,
Dash! Dash! Dash!
Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!"

That's catchy stuff. Sadly, I wasn't as taken by G. Brian Karas's illustrations. They're cute enough, sure. Just not particularly grabbing. The three bunnies are fairly indistinguishable from one another, save for their different colored shirts. The pictures don't really detract from the reading but they don't add anything either. My advice is, come for the nice story and catchy phrases. Stay for the messages about carrots being nummy!

Muncha Muncha noise & not much else
The flow of the book is very disjointed, jumping from narrative to sound effects with no explanation for the listener. So, younger children may not easily follow the story line without the reader stopping to explain that, "And the sun went down. And the moon came up. And - Tippy tippy tippy pat, Dive-paddle, Splash! Splash! Splash! Dig-scrabble, Scratch! Scratch! Scratch! spring-hurdle Dash! Dash! Dash! Muncha Muncha Muncha!" means that the rabbits tip-toed to the garden, jumped into a moat, swam across it, climbed over a wall, jumped over a fence and ate the vegetables. The illustrations are cute but again, (for younger listeners) don't lead the children through the story very well. It's an empty story with not much other than pesky rabbits and a weekend gardener who attempts to find new ways to keep the rabbits from eating his vegetables. ... Read more

Book Description

"Building on a rhyme that will be familiar to many children, author-illustrator Cole creates an enticing guide to creating a garden. 'This is the garden that Jack planted...' The final illustration presents a satisfied-looking boy surrounded by a lush, bird-filled flower garden....A concluding page of gardening suggestions serves as a springboard to books with more specific guidelines."--Horn Book. ... Read more

Book Description

The Freddy the Pig books have long been considered classics of American children's literature and with each reissue by The Overlook Press, this wonderful pig is charming his way into the hearts of more and more readers, adults and children alike. Freddy's Bean Farm is a frolicking place and Freddy--whether he's a pilot, cowboy, explorer, politician, or detective--will always save the day and be sure to have fun doing it.

In Freddy and Mr. Camphor Freddy is positively worn out from his job as President of the First Animal Bank and-- as if this wasn't enough responsibility for one pig!--his position as Editor of the Bean Home News. At the urging of the farm animals, Freddy answers an ad in the Bean Home News for a position as caretaker of a large estate for the duration of the summer. Freddy is a bit overwhelmed when what was meant to be a relaxing little respite from the world turns out to be a real challenge...but the pig will muddle through!

"They are the American version of the great English classics, such as the Pooh books or The Wind in the Willows."-- The New York Times Book Review

"There's a richness to the world of Bean Farm and a strong moral code that is timeless. . ."-- Los Angeles Times

"Freddy is simply one of the greatest characters in children's literature!"-- School Library Journal ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Mild, but Pleasing, Freddy
Sometimes Mr. Brooks was able to come up with excellent titles for his novels; "Freddy and the Ignormus" will arouse anyone's curiousity, and "Wiggins for President" fairly jumps off the shelf. On the other hand, sometimes he wasn't; a neophyte reader discovering the title "Freddy and Mr. Camphor" on the library shelf might forgivably be tempted to shove it back in. Luckily, the book is stronger than the title.

"Freddy and Mr. Camphor" features two story lines; the primary involves Freddy becoming caretaker of a large estate and facing off against two sets of old enemies, the subsidiary involves insects pitching in to protect Victory gardens from themselves. The two stories are not tied together in any particular way, and do not represent Brooks at his best, but are certainly pleasant. Freddy fans will be pleased to see both Simon and The Winches, and Freddy's new friends, a pair of difficult hoptoads, are most amusing.

Freddy Takes Care
It is hard to imagine it happening to Freddy the Pig, but gradually his busy life as pig, poet, banker, detective, and newspaperman was wearing him out. Even his good friend Jinx the Cat could see that Freddy needed a change. But Freddy didn't see how he could leave all his responsibilities. Finally, his salvation came in the form of a help wanted advertisement for a caretaker at the estate of the wealthy Mr. Jimson Camphor.

The job seemed perfect. Freddy got to live on a houseboat while he guarded the grounds and mowed the expansive lawn. If it hadn't been for a chance meeting with Waldo and Elmo, a pair of dejected hoptoads, Freddy would have thought he was in heaven. But the toads reveal that all is not well. Simon the Rat and his clan have moved into the Camphor attic and, in a fit of random destructiveness, have chewed away the faces on the portraits that are stored there.

Nor is that the worst of it. Mrs. Winch, the housekeeper, turned out to be the estranged wife of Zebedee Winch and his son Horace, whom the reader may remember from Freddy's trip to Florida, where he gave the animals no end of problems. This time is no different. Freddy is locked up, a plot is hatched against him and Mr. Camphor returns to find Freddy accused of vandalism and theft. A dejected Freddy returns to the Bean Farm, determined to undo the damage.

Of course, things are not perfect on the farm either Webb the Spider is on a campaign to convince the insects that they should abstain from eating the Victory Gardens that are providing extra food for the war effort. He is opposed by Zero, the anarchist horsefly, and appeals to Freddy for help. Certainly, a pig's work is never done.

Somehow, of course, all is made right, but it takes all of Freddy's ingenuity, the cooperation of the farm animals, and even an array of militant fleas to bring all the culprits to justice. In the world of the Bean Farm, teamwork, friendship, and an honest determination to do the right thing are the tools that make the difference. As always, Brooks' lessons are painless fun. He displays a touch for gentle yet satirical caricature that cannot help but please both his younger audience and us doddering, older readers who remember the days before noir fiction and, like Freddy, occasionally need to take a break

Two foretrotters up for Freddy and Mr. Camphor!
Long after Walter Brooks has earned his eternal reward, he ismaking a paradise here on earth for fans of Freddy! Freddy andMr. Camphor is one of the best Freddy's out there. If you don't love Freddy, you'll love Mr. Camphor. If you don't love Mr. Camphor, there's always Bannister to adore. If not Bannister, well, there's Mrs. Wiggins, or Jinx, or the Webbs, or cousin Augustus and his relatives. One thing is certain, you won't leave this book without a new friend. Walter Brooks does for the animal kingdom what PG Wodehouse does for humankind by creating a happy fantasyland where nothing ever goes so wrong that it can't be undone, and it is always undone with wit and sagacity. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"We're planting the seeds for a surprise garden. Can you guess what wewill grow?" Trace the progress of three small children (and various and sundrydogs, ladybugs, spiders, worms, and butterflies) as they loosen the soil, pokeseeds in one by one, water the garden, and watch the small green shoots grow.Surprise! The gardeners find carrots and radishes, broccoli andcauliflower, peas, beans, squash, and even a sunflower. When it's harvest time,the children have a garden party to eat all their delicious produce.

Shari Halpern's gorgeous cut-paper collages look good enough to eat. The sweet,simple features of the young gardeners speak volumes about the thrill andmystery of watching tiny seeds turn into a garden full of flowers, fruits, andvegetables. Readers will have a hard time resisting the allure of planting a"surprise garden" once they've finished this delightful picture book, which alsoincludes a helpful guide linking seeds to plants. Zoe Hall and Shari Halpernhave teamed up for several other nature-loving books: Fall Leaves Fall!, It's Pumpkin Time!, and The Apple Pie Tree. (Ages 3 to6) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Vibrant Colors
The virbant colors and bold pictures make this book a real eye catcher! Preschoolers will enjoy learning how a handful of seed will sprout, grow into plants and produce vegetables you can eat! Great book to read and keep on your shelf during spring planting season. ... Read more

Book Description

Right in the middle of Marcy's city block is a littered vacant lot. Then one day she has a wonderful idea that not only improves the useless lot but her entire neighborhood as well. "DiSalvo-Ryan's warm text is enhanced by her soft pencil-and-watercolor illustrations depicting a diverse neighborhood drawn together by a community project."--Booklist. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Story for a Community or Garden Unit
This is a wonderful story about a little girl who works with her neighbors to turn a vacant lot into a garden. Over the course of the story the grumpy old man changes because of the garden. It's a great story, high readability for middle to end third grade students on grade level. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What do the children you know usually do when school is out for thesummer? Go crazy with boredom? Head poolside with friends? Plan a self-sufficient civilization with its own staple food crop? That is precisely how Wesley decides to spend his summer vacation. Wesley is not an ordinary boy: "He alone in his town disliked pizza and soda, alarming his mother and the school nurse. He found professional football stupid. He'd refused to shave half his head, the hairstyle worn by all the other boys, despite his father's bribe of five dollars." It all starts (the civilization, that is) when Wesley overturns a plot of ground in his yard to see what new and unknown seeds might blow into it. Curiously, just one kind of plant grows--an unusual, flowering, fruit-bearing plant that tastes of "peach, strawberry, pumpkin pie, and flavors he had no name for." Soon, Wesley is literally reaping the fruits of his labors--using the fruit rind to make a cup for the juice he squeezes, barbecuing the root tubers, and weaving the bark into a hat to keep off the sun.

In Wesley's new world, he no longer needs a watch because he uses a flower stalk as a sundial, dividing the day into 8 segments, one for each of the flower's petals. A new language (based on an 80-letter alphabet) and counting system (based on the number 8) soon follow. Ah, Weslandia. Slowly but surely his once-tormenting classmates become curious.And soon enough, Wesley allows them to help him crush seeds for oil, which "had a tangy scent and served him both as suntan lotion and mosquito repellent." He also invents sports that are less distasteful to him than football--"games rich with strategy and complex scoring systems," and watches patiently as his classmates blunder. Wesley's parents say that he looks happy for the first time in years. And when he returns to school in September? "He had no shortage of friends." Newbery Medal winner and onetime alternate-world creator Paul Fleischman shines in this deadpan-but-hilarious picture book, and illustrator Kevin Hawkes's splendid paintings will delight young readers with the explosion of colorful, comical details. Kids young and old will love the once-outcast hero Wesley and his Robinson Crusoe-style triumphs. (Ages 8 to 11, or for reading aloud to younger children) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Vincent's review of Weslandia
If you like reading books, then read Weslandia. Weslandia is a civilization where a kid planted some seeds and they grew really, really tall. The kids name is Wesley, and he makes everything he needs with his plants. He makes food, juice, clothing, mosquito repellent, sunblock, a sundial, and even games. The game looks just like Quidditch on Harry Potter. He even sleeps outside where he made his clubhouse.
What I like about the story is when he makes a lot of money selling his bug repellent and sunblock. I also like the equipment he makes for his games.
You should read this book because it could be your favorite book too.

Denny's Weslandia Book Review
Have you ever read the cool book called Weslandia? If you haven't you should. It's about a boy named Wesley that's an outcast. He decided to change that over the summer. He made a garden where his crop grew very large. It became Weslandia and Wesley began to do things that most people wouldn't do.
Some of the things he did are make clothing and a shelter out of the plants. From the oil of the plants he made ink, sunscreen, and bug repellent. He made a sundial from the flower on top of the stem. Wesley made juice from the plants roots. He also made a game, and an 80-letter alphabet for Weslandia. He sold the sunscreen and bug repellent in little bottles for $10 per bottle. I guess you can say that he lived on these plants.
When I heard this story, I really liked it, and I think you would too.

An entertaining Tom Sawyer/Robinson Caruso hybrid.
Weslandia is a wonderful hybrid of Robinson Caruso, Tom Sayer and Anthropology 101.

Wes is a geek. He doesn't like pizza, soda or what passes as acceptable fashion among his peers. Not surprising, as a result, Wes is the victim of a lot of childish abuse. With summer upon him he decides to turn over some soil in his back yard to see what interesting plants might be seeded there. This is the beginning of a marvelous adventure. His experiment produces but one plant-an unknown, unusual, highly prolific plant that takes over the back yard. Wes cultivates the plant, begins to understand it's potentialities, and starts the process of developing his own "civilization" based on the plant. It provides food, shelter, clothing and the inspiration for much invention-time pieces, a new mathematical system, a new language with a new alphabet. As time goes on Wes takes on the aspects of a Robinson Caruso in his own, isolated world.

The story takes on a bit of a Tom Sawyer aspect as Wes' tormentors begin to get interested in all the goings on in his back yard. Before long, they are out there with Wes, cultivating the plant, eating it's fruit, dressing in the garb of this new world, being absorbed into this new civilization.

The story is absorbing. The illustrations are wonderful-lush and colorful. There are recurring "characters" that appear in the world-basically flora and fauna, who appear in each panel, often semi camouflaged, providing younger children with a "where's-Waldo" opportunity of discovery. This makes this book a very good family read that can accommodate a wide age range.

All in all one of the better children's books I've read in quite a while.

Celebrates the Intellect's Triumph
"Weslandia" proves a great read for younger children for several reasons.

First, the exploits of young, intellectual, nonconformist Wesley are celebrated without apology or pandering---a refreshing triumph of mind over the slothful, herd mentality stressed in some classrooms.

Second, Paul Fleischman, the author, revs up the vocabulary instead of "dumbing" down the text to appeal to all. Young readers not only get the message to follow their own compass but the added bonus of having to work on their vocabulary.

Finally, Kevin Hawkes, the illustrator, fills every page with wonderful and vivid paintings that depict both the grand scale of Wesley's deeds but the subtle nuances as well. (Notice the pizza impaled on the dart board for instance.)

Grab a copy and carve out some time to read and talk to your youngster about the value of being true to oneself, the wisdom of work, and the value of solitude.

Saisha's Weslandia book Review
I am going to tell you about Weslandia. This book is exciting because in the first part of the story you would want to know what is going to happen in the story. From the cover of the story you would want to know what the story is going to be about.
I think it is funny because people have hair cuts in the story that look like Mohawks. No one liked Wesley because he was different from the other boys. Wesley's summer project was that the flowers in the garden grew bigger, and he made a lot of stuff out of them.
At the end he had a lot of friends, and everyone copied him. He earned money by making and selling suntan lotion and mosquito repellent, which he made from his flowers.
I like the story because it is funny. ... Read more

Book Description

The charming story of two sisters and their magnificent Southern garden.Each year when the garden is in full bloom, the twins put up a sign announcing "The Garden is Open" and plan a party to celebrate spring. Based on a true story, the book communicates the joy a garden can bring both to those who create and those who share its beauty. The Garden is Open contains a pop-up page and a tiny packet of seeds from the sisters' garden. It is truly a book for all seasons that readers of all ages will enjoy. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A garden blooms among the pages of this pop-up book
This charming book is based upon the true story of two 80-ish twins living in the historic "Gimghoul" neighborhood in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. For 50+ years, the twin sisters have tended their garden. Each Spring, when the garden is ready for guests, the sisters hanga small wooden sign which states "the garden is open" on their gate. Hundreds of visitors stroll their garden paths, ask for advice, and sometimes return home with a cutting or a handful of seeds. Author Pamela Pease has done a fine job in sharing this wonderful story in this beautifully executed pop-up. Her illustrations are childlike and bold; a pop-up of the sisters' house and garden "blooms" amidst the pages, and a packet of seeds from the garden is tucked into the back. For gardeners (and children) of all ages!

A garden blooms among the pages of this pop-up book
This charming book is based upon the true story of two 80-ish twins living in the historic "Gimghoul" neighborhood in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. For 50+ years, the twin sisters have tended their garden. Each Spring, when the garden is ready for guests, the sisters hanga small wooden sign which states "the garden is open" on their gate. Hundreds of visitors stroll their garden paths, ask for advice, and sometimes return home with a cutting or a handful of seeds. Author Pamela Pease has done a fine job in sharing this wonderful story in this beautifully executed pop-up. Her illustrations are childlike and bold; a pop-up of the sisters' house and garden "blooms" amidst the pages, and a packet of seeds from the garden is tucked into the back. For gardeners (and children) of all ages! ... Read more