Garden Wonders: A Guidebook for Little Greeen Thumbs (Little Explorers Series)

Written and illustrated by Sarah Grindler

Nimbus Publishing

978-1-77471-143-9

32 pp.

Ages 4-8

March 2023

 

While many in the US were celebrating National Gardening Day yesterday (April 14), our own National Garden Day takes place on the Friday of the week of Father's Day so June 16, 2023. Still, I'd rather not wait another two months to share Sarah Grindler's picture book Garden Wonders with its sweet illustrations and lessons about how to garden, from what to grow and what is needed to help plants grow.

From Garden Wonders: A Guidebook for Little Green Thumbs by Sarah Grindler

Whether you're on the west coast, as is author-illustrator Sarah Grindler, on the prairies, on the east coast or in an urban setting, a rite of spring is preparing a garden. It might be a large vegetable plot, or flower cutting garden, or perhaps containers of herbs for culinary endeavours. Regardless, starting a garden and sustaining it is pretty much the same.

From Garden Wonders: A Guidebook for Little Green Thumbs by Sarah Grindler

After taking us through the garden gate of her garden, which including a lovely tabby cat, Sarah Grindler starts with explaining the need for soil and the components that help things grow. She discusses nematodes and moisture, aeration and ensuring sufficient nutrients and minerals. 

Next, she discusses the planting of seeds for successful germination, giving helpful tips about watering and a visual example of how to plant. Sarah Grindler also delves into perennials, biennials, and annuals; veggies that are root vegetables or leafy greens; and all the creatures, both beneficial and harmful, that might be found in a garden.

From Garden Wonders: A Guidebook for Little Green Thumbs by Sarah Grindler

Garden Wonders: A Guidebook for Little Green Thumbs has a very retro feel to it, both in its text and illustrations. There is a nostalgic feel to the picture book, reminiscent of Little Golden Books, which relied on traditional storytelling rather than cartoons, sauciness, or issues-driven tales. Sarah Grindler's picture book is to inform but she does it with colour, using watercolour and more, and gentleness with the reality of her art and the modesty of her words. 

There are so many types of amazing gardens.

Creative gardens are everywhere, and you don't

need a lot of space to plant your very own.

What would you like to grow?

She's encouraging while thoughtful, understanding the breadth of opportunities–some limited, some vast–that young explorers might have to growing a garden. And, with an offering of several gardening projects for kids to try,  Sarah Grindler takes us into the garden to learn and grow in a calm and unassuming way.

• • • • • • •

 

If your little explorers might like to venture out into the forest or the seaside as well as the garden, I might recommend the other books in this series from Sarah Grindler.

Seaside Treasures: A Guidebook for Little Beachcombers 

(Nimbus, 2019)

Forest Magic: A Guidebook for Little Woodland Explorers 

(Nimbus, 2021)

Garden Wonders: A Guidebook for Little Green Thumbs 

(Nimbus, 2023)