review: Growing Vegetable Soup

Growing Vegetable Soup written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert.
Harcourt Brace, 1987 (0-15-232575-1); 2004 (978-0-15-206176-0) $10.95

Although I've always enjoyed this book and it's companion, Planting a Rainbow, I don't think I ever fully appreciated it in its small board book edition. Now as a lap-size board book, it is bolder, brighter and more beautiful than ever.

This story offers basic information on gardening with a lovely touch of imagination. The unseen narrator describes the whole process of how he and his dad "grow vegetable soup," starting with their tools, going on to planting the seeds and sprouts, and ending with picking or digging up the vegetables and cooking them. The simple, direct text is accompanied by labelled illustrations of everything that's used, from the soil to the soup bowl. Ehlert's signature collage illustrations make each item colorful and distinctive, and give the little seedlings and growing plants their full measure of charm. If you've only seen the small board book edition, do yourself a favor and check out this edition, or the original picture book. (2-6)

review: Muncha Muncha Muncha

I hear from Kids Lit that there is a sequel to MMM, which I haven't been lucky enough to read yet, but you can see why I want to...



Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming. Illustrated by G.
Brian Karas. Atheneum, 2002 (0-689-83152-8) $16.00

Reminiscent of The Tale of Peter Rabbit--if it had been written from McGregor's point of view--this tale of Man vs. Bunny is equally delightful in its own right. Mr. McGreely has dreamed for years of planting a garden, and finally one Spring he hoes and sows and watches his garden grow. But his dreams of crisp, fresh veggies are ruined by three hungry bunnies. As Mr. McGreely gets angrier and angrier at the devastation of his garden, he builds more and bigger structures around it--but the bunnies always find a way through. Until one day he builds such a huge, enormous thing around his garden, the bunnies can't possibly get in. Or can they?

Fleming uses a combination of repetitive and cumulative prose that makes the story simply sing when read aloud, and Karas' lively illustrations give it great expression and charm--especially the last page, which shows Mr. McGreely sitting on the grass and moodily gnawing a carrot along with the three happy gnawing bunnies. Adults who choose to can find lots of lessons here about the futility of escalation, the benefits of sharing, and the drawbacks of trying to overcontrol nature... or they can simply share a terrific story. * (2-8)

Poetry Friday: Inch by Inch

Spring, beautiful spring...


Inch By Inch: The Garden Song by David Mallett. Illustrated by Ora
Eitan. HarperCollins, 1995 (0-06-024303-1); HarperTrophy, 1997
(0-06443481-8) $5.95 pb

A small but stalwart gardener delightfully personifies the themes of this homage to gardening, taken from Mallet's classic folk song. With a little attention to the rhythm, it's almost as much fun to read as it is to sing (although I prefer the slightly altered version Arlo Guthrie performs); the music is also included. Boldly splashed with color, Eitan's pictures interpret the intimate, uplifting lyrics with imagination and verve, illustrating "Mother Earth will make you strong if you give her love and care," with a picture of the boy tugging a radish six times his size out of the ground; "In my garden I'm as free as that feathered thief up there" shows him and his faithful dog sliding down a rainbow. Gardeners of every age will love this. (3 & up)

review: Young Gardener

More children's books for plant and garden lovers can be found here.


Young Gardener written and photographed by Stefan and Beverley Buczacki. Other Photographs by Anthea Sieveking. Illustrations by Peter Luback. Frances Lincoln, 2007 (978-1-84507-295-7) $19.95

Almost everything a young gardener could want to know can be found in this aptly named book, and as an added bonus, it's also attractively designed and easy to use. Thoughtfully broken down by season--and breaking even those down to Early, Mid and Late--each chapter includes sections on "What's going on in the garden?" (Late Spring: birds are feeding their babies, a good time to add food to feeders), "What's happening to the plants" (Early Summer: perennial plants are in flower, annuals are starting to appear, lawns need to be mowed and weeded), "What can I do in the garden?" (Early Autumn: store fruits and vegetables, dig up potatoes), and a garden-related craft project. Each seasonal chapter also includes a checklist of preparations for the upcoming season.

Full-color photographs of gardens and kid gardeners of all ages brighten just about every page of the book; the carefully detailed instructions for the activities are accompanied by lively pen & ink drawings, making them easy to follow. Pesticides are not mentioned and safety is always emphasized. Unfortunately, alternatives to pesticides aren't mentioned much either: the inevitable issue of how to deal with pests and diseases is conspicuous by its absence, and that may cause disappointment for readers who expect to easily replicate the gorgeous results displayed here.

Young Gardener also shares an issue with many gardening books for adults: it was originally published in Great Britain and some of the gardening terms are different. This isn't a serious problem, just something to be aware of when shopping; a glossary at the end is helpful. The plants suggested are common and easy to find in the U.S., and the crafts, such as making a bird table or pressed flower pictures, use familiar supplies (unlike many English gardening books for adults, which all seem to assume old sinks can be found lying around every corner.) Recipes are given in both metric and U.S. measurements, but children may need help converting centigrade to Fahrenheit.

Other than that, just about everything about Young Gardener is easy to use: I particularly appreciate how simple it makes the question of what-to-do-when, which I always found the most confusing aspect of gardening. Because it's so thick and juicy, it still might be intimidating for young readers who just want to dabble a bit in gardening, not fling themselves wholeheartedly into it. But for those ready for a fling, this will get them off to a great start. (6-12)