Tag Archives: Gardens

Apr18

Ten Little Figs – Rhian Williams/Nathaniel Eckstrom

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1570582187580

Walker Books Australia

April 2020

ISBN: 9781921977312
Imprint: Walker Books Australia
Australian RRP: $24.99
New Zealand RRP: $27.99

Here’s another beautiful book which would make a super complement to that reviewed in my previous post, to add vigour and depth to your backyard holidays.

Kiddos will just love this rollicking rhythmic countdown as the ten juicy figs disappear one by one thanks to some Australian native fauna. We may not all spot an echidna in the backyard or even a Hercules moth but it’s very likely we may find leaf-curling spiders or lorikeets –  again, it could well be a springboard to discovering what suburban wildlife your own backyard harbours.

This is the author’s first book and I for one look forward to seeing more from her particularly as she is passionate about nature and IMO sharing such books is a must for our little people. Eckstrom’s illustrations are wonderfully well-suited to the subject matter as they evoke a lush garden space on a sunny day and children will love investigating smaller details.

A perfect read-aloud to share whether you’re in ‘stay at home’ mode or not – this one will be a sure-fire hit with small humans from around 2 upwards.

Why not start your own backyard safari while we have so much time to enjoy our beautiful out-of-doors?

 

Apr18

Duck, Apple, Egg – Glenda Millard/Martina Heiduczek

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y648

Harper Collins Australia

February 2020

  • ISBN: 9780733340185
  • ISBN 10: 0733340180
  • Imprint: ABC Books – AU
  • List Price: 24.99 AUD

Another perfect accompaniment to being at home and enjoying simpler pleasures, this is just delightful in its simplicity and charm as a little person plays in the garden.

Duck on the green,
sun in the sky,
egg in the nest,
apple on the tree,
and me.

Most well-suited to the very young this will be a great starter to exploring their own gardens which may not have a resident duck or an apple tree but will be sure to hold many amazing discoveries when examined at leisure.

For children a little older and in prep there is potential to explore key concepts such as prepositions and of course to share about imaginative play and nature around them.  I can already envisage a lovely classroom wall mural which could echo the illustrations and be filled with children’s personal garden discoveries.

From toddlers upwards to around five or six years old, this makes a lovely and timely addition to your store of great books for nature exploration.

Click to access Duck-Apple-Egg-Teachers-Notes.pdf

Apr18

Seeds – Carme Lenniscates

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Candlewick Press

March 2020

Imprint: Candlewick  Studio

ISBN 9781536208443

Another timely book – certainly for us – as we’ve been re-invigorating and re-planting our veggie patch after a long hot summer. Magical seeds are popping up in the propagator on our front verandah waiting until they are sturdy enough to be planted out in the bed.

But this book is not just about the wonder of seeds in the literal sense. It also speaks to our little people about figurative seeds – the seeds of anger which can quickly flare up into nasty weeds but also the seeds of kindness  and those of smiles which we should all be sowing liberally. (Lord knows we could use a lot of that in some sectors of society at present!)

This is a beautiful book which moves from scientific explanation of seeds undergoing their transformations to a philosophical metaphors for human emotions and behaviour seamlessly.  Definitely one worth adding to your classroom program on either basis as there will much rich discussion ensuing.

Most children love gardening and growing things – even the too-cool teen is still keen to garden (in fact she’s just helped spread two large bags of horse manure over the veggie patch!). The wonder of watching plants erupt from tiny capsules is one that never loses its joy.

Why not combine your reading and philosophy with some science-based work (gotta love cross-curricular topics!)?

Highly recommended for little people from ELC upwards.

Apr12

Grace’s Mystery Seed – Juliet M Sampson/Karen Erasmus

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Graces-Mystery-Seed

Ford St Publishing

March 2019

$16.95

Have you ever had your children (or grandies) garden with you? I used to garden with my girls and now I have my beautiful granddaughter growing up here also loving planting and watching things grow. She especially loved planting radish seeds to spell her name and only having to wait a few days to see the results!

Juliet M Sampson has utterly captured the magic of that moment of watching the transformation of a seed into a thing of beauty and wonder.

Little Grace loves helping her favourite neighbour in her garden and especially feeding the pet parrot, Polly, his delicious stripy seeds. When Grace wonders aloud where these delicacies come from, Mrs Marino suggests planting one. Grace is enthralled and shares her excitement with her friends and family.

Grace’s joy when her sunflower blooms and does indeed seek the sun each day is truly super stuff to share with young readers (oh how I wish they could all experience this amazing transformation!). Of course, not only is Grace’s mystery seed the foundation of her joy in the flower, but the sunflower will keep on giving – seeds to her friends and to Polly.

I lament the fact that so many children no longer have this glorious joy and I’m personally so glad I have been able to share it with my own children and grandchildren.

Why not inspire your young readers to do likewise? I am planning now to start a seed or two in our library after the holidays and hand out some to kick off some young reader’s own nature journeys.

Highly recommended for readers from around five years upwards and check out the teaching notes here.  GROW your readers now!

Apr14

The ABC Book of Food –  Helen Martin/Judith Simpson. Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini

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ABC

Harper-Collins

  • ISBN:9780733334269
  • ISBN 10: 0733334261
  • Imprint: ABC Books – AU
  • On Sale: 01/03/2016
  • List Price: 99 AUD

Yes this was published last year and no, I hadn’t lost it! But for some reason it only came to me recently. Since today I’ve already looked at butterflies and seeds I thought it might just complete the day’s reviewing.

An informative and colourful picture book which takes a look at our food, where it comes from, how it’s processed, where it’s sold and how we might eat it.  Small children will identify with aspects like picnics and farmers’ markets and shops that sell just one kind of food (with a little puzzle contained in the illustrations). It even mentions the sorts of foods that some people can’t eat e.g. dairy or nuts.

All in all it’s a pretty useful book that will engage young readers and encourage discussions about healthy food and eating which is always a positive.

Recommended for readers from around 3 years to 7 years.

Apr14

What Will Grow? – Jennifer Ward. Illustrated by Susie Ghahremani

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whatwillgrow

Bloomsbury Publishing Australia

Imprint: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

February 2017

ISBN: 9781681190303

RRP: $19.99

 

In my experience children love to garden and they are fascinated to see seeds sprout and grow – especially when they can eat the end results!

This charming book with a very simple but engaging rhyming text and fabulous richly coloured illustrations will be very well received by young gardeners, particularly as it gives information on planting the seeds mentioned. Whether big or small, pointed or round, fluffy or striped each seed is a wonder is itself and the surprises that arrive are always exciting.

Containing four gatefold pages opening up to examine those larger plants like the always popular sunflower or a huge pine tree this will provide real entertainment and learning for little readers.

Highly recommended for readers from about 3 upwards.