Eddie's Garden and How to Make Things Grow [Hardcover]

Sarah Garland (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

What makes Eddie's garden grow? Earth, rain, sun, and all sorts of creatures, of course! Eddie works hard — digging, pulling weeds, and watering his plants — and soon his garden is magnificent, from his string bean house to his tall sunflowers. How his garden develops and grows is clearly and delightfully told in this gentle story with colorful illustrations by Sarah Garland. Children will be inspired by the idea that they can grow plants themselves that the whole family will eat and enjoy. The book includes full information on growing a garden like Eddie's in a home garden or containers.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2–Eddie and his mother ("assisted" by baby sister Lily and applauded by Grandad) plant a veggie garden. Their hard work is recorded in the brief text, and delightfully displayed in the soft watercolors (one appealing illustration shows the siblings sitting inside a "bean den"–long sticks tied together at the top and covered with vines). The family's horticultural efforts (including a late-night slug hunt) are rewarded by a bumper crop, and the ensuing picnic stars peas, carrots, corn, and lettuce (and a pie made from Lily's pumpkin). Novice gardeners will find instructions for growing Eddie's plants, along with other pertinent information on soil, seeds, container gardening, and possible pests, at the back of the book. A wonderful supplement to gems such as Lois Ehlert's Growing Vegetable Soup (Harcourt, 1987), Rosalind Creasy's Blue Potatoes, Orange Tomatoes (Sierra Club, 1997), and Michael Rosen's stunning Down to Earth (Harcourt, 1998), Garland's offering will inspire young children to ask for a bit of earth (or a couple of pots) to try out their green thumbs.–Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 3. Watching their mother dig in her garden, Eddie and his little sister, Lily, ask for their own. During the next few months, Eddie plants seeds, waters them, helps Lily, watches their plants grow, hunts slugs, harvests vegetables, and eats the home-grown produce. Bits of humor in the telling and appealing visual elements such as a bean-pole teepee will help keep children involved in the story. This book ends with four helpful pages explaining how to grow "Eddie's plants," such as carrots, nasturtiums, and sunflowers, as well as discussing soil, seeds, pests, hazards, and gardening indoors and in containers. Evidently a labor of love for Garland, an English writer and illustrator who has written an adult book on plants, this picture book offers plenty of genial details in the bright, engaging colored artwork. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books (February 13, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1845070151
• ISBN-13: 978-1845070151
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,333,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fun gardening story for children, April 19, 2004

By 

K. Spielmann (Wales, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eddie's Garden and How to Make Things Grow (Hardcover)

Sarah Garland is a great author of children's books in the UK, and this is a great book for children. It tells the story of a young boy Eddie planting a garden with his mum and little sister Lily. My two year old son loves this book, and has been inspired to push his wheelbarrow around our garden, dig lots of holes in the dirt, plant seeds and water. This book is good for 2 year olds and older children. The illustrations are loving and wonderful.

5.0 out of 5 stars Daughter's favorite book, January 12, 2009

By 

R. M. Jones - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eddie's Garden and How to Make Things Grow (Hardcover)

We first found this book at the library, it became my 3 year old daughters favorite book. She is so excited for the Spring to come so we can plant a small garden!

5.0 out of 5 stars Eddie's Garden, July 20, 2005

By 

B. Kassen - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Eddie's Garden and How to Make Things Grow (Hardcover)

This was the type of book that kept the kid's interest. Used it in a summer session for 15 K-2 graders. They acted out the story. One was a pumpkin etc... Another great read!