Today Juanito is accompanying his father who is in the landscaping business, and he takes his sketchbook along to draw anything that catches his eye, and gets to help his father plan an entire garden–and then help plant it. Includes an autobiographical note.
Gardens and gardeners
What Grew In Larry’s Garden
Grace thinks Larry’s garden is one of the wonders of the world. In his tiny backyard next door to hers, Larry grows the most extraordinary vegetables. Grace loves helping him – watering and weeding, planting and pruning, hoeing and harvesting. And whenever there’s a problem – like bugs burrowing into the carrots or slugs chewing the lettuce – Grace and Larry solve it together. Grace soon learns that Larry has big plans for the vegetables in his special garden. And when that garden faces its biggest problem yet, Grace follows Larry’s example to find the perfect solution. Inspired by a real person, author Laura Alary has written a heartwarming story about how amazing things can grow when you tend your garden with kindness. In this case, Larry, a teacher, is helping to grow community. He has his students grow tomato plants that they then give away to their neighbors with personal notes. It offers a powerful lesson on the influence of generosity, while encouraging young children to become community activists in their own neighborhoods. This uplifting story fosters an appreciation for neighborhood and community at a time when that sentiment seems to be eroding. The book also contains an environmental message about harvesting your own vegetables and, with Kass Reich’s colorful illustrations, works beautifully for a life science exploration of growth and changes in plants. There are character education connections to caring, cooperation, empathy, kindness, perseverance and teamwork.
The Night Gardener
Everyone on Grimloch Lane enjoys the trees and shrubs clipped into animal masterpieces after dark by the Night Gardener, but William, a lonely boy, spots the artist, follows him, and helps with his special work.
Featured in WOW Review Volume IX, Issue 1.
A Girl Named Disaster
While fleeing from Mozambique to Zimbabwe to escape an unwanted marriage, Nhamo, an eleven-year-old Shona girl, struggles to escape drowning and starvation and in so doing comes close to the luminous world of the African spirits.
Canada: The Culture
This book looks at the music, dance, traditions, architecture, theater, sports, and arts that make up Canada’s culture.
The Elephant-Headed God And Other Hindu Tales
A collection of Hindu myths featuring gods and goddesses, kings and queens, heroes and beggars, angelic beings and demons.
Celebrate! In Southeast Asia
Describes a variety of holiday celebrations in Southeast Asia, including Thailand’s Elephant Round-Up, Singapore’s Moon Cake Festival, and the Vietnamese New Year.
The Dream Stealer
A village of Russian peasants rebuild their homes on a train to flee an evil wolf, only to be saved by a little girl’s dream and the knowledge of the witch Baba Yaga.