Happy First Day of SPRING, 2021: Some Gardening Books to Love!

I'll return to feature a portion of the 2021 Notable Trade Books for Young People by NCSS list that's geared to older readers. Soon, I promise. If you haven't a clue what I'm referring to, check out an earlier post that launched this series, HERE.

Before that next summary-and-link post happens, I'm plowing through the stacks of titles from those lists that came through on my library hold list. There are few things in life that i enjoy ore than discovering well-curated lists of recommended books, finding among those titles many favorites, but also finding new-to-me titles!

 With Spring sprouting on our calendars and outdoors, these three recent picture books snagged my attention for this post. All three are on the NOTABLE TRADE BOOK list from NCSS.

Charlesbridge, 2020

A natural place to begin is with ONE LITTLE LOT: The 1-2-3 of an Urban Garden, written by Diane C. Mullen and illustrated by Oriol Vidal. Before text begins, readers are faced with a full page spread of a miserable, trashy lot, fronted with a rusted fence and smushed against the wall of a high rise that's covered with fading graffiti. The title page introduces a curious bee, leading to a page-turn, bees'-eye-view of that lot. The count-up to success begins with the count of "One little lot"- with nothing to offer those bees, or the busy, diverse folks who pass it by. "Two helping hands" launch the changes that invite others to transform, to dream, to develop, to celebrate the potential of this space.

By the count of ten, readers have witnessed the necessary steps to achieve that success, to grow a community, provide fresh local  nutrition, and to create a hub of urban life. Back matter informs us that the author's little 10X10 plot in Minnesota was the inspiration, but the lessons can apply anywhere. Two other short passages explore the necessity of bees, and ways to attract bees into urban gardens.

Paula Wiseman Books, S&S BYR, 2020

Travel now from Minnesota to Harlem for another look at urban gardens. HARLEM GROWN: How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood is written by Tony Hillery and illustrated by Jessie Hartland. The similarities are many, including the contemporary, diverse folks who invested their curiosity, energy, faith, and persistence to transform an urban wasteland into gardens of promise- promise of health, exercise, nutrition, and community. Both narratives use simple direct languege and realistic steps to follow. In this case, though, author Tony HIllery is sharing an actual retelling of the original  HARLEM GROWN GARDEN, across from PS 175. The public school across the street from that miserable "haunted" lot provided the inspiration for volunteer Tony to "plot" big changes. Together, Tony and the four hundred students at PS 175 made that bedraggled lot into their own farm, then invited the neighbors to share their adventure. This first successful project led to an organization of twelve Harlem gardens, sustained by their communities but supported by full time staff. Author Tony includes back matter that shares more details of the origin story, honors some of those who helped it happen, and provides simple but helpful steps to follow for those who have the heart and hands to try their own urban garden magic. 

 

Katherine Tegen Books, 2020

The last of these nonfiction features is THE SECRET GARDEN of GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER, written by Gene Barretta and illustrated by Frank Morrison. In this case, the intense, lush illustrations contrast with the lively simplicity of the first title and the bouncing comical energy of the second. Here, from front to back cover and through every page turn, the illustrations enfold readers, wrap us in the sounds and scents and secrets of a hidden green space. The focus remains fixed on an individual who is called to discover nature's secrets as surely as he was called to the heart nurture and learn from his verdant hidden spaces.

I’ve read a dozen or more books about Carver, but this lush and enlightening approach makes it the most appealing and kid-friendly of all. The post Civil War era, the limitations on a black child, and the familiar drive of any child to pursue beloved interests will win the hearts of kids while the illustrations invite their eyes to linger and explore every page.
No matter how many Carver titles you’ve read before, read this one.

These three nonfiction picture books will certainly entertain, inform, and intrigue you. My guess is that they will also get your green thumbs itching to start growing things, even if that is simply a seed in a cup on your kitchen counter. It's the first day of spring- have at it!