Flower Garden [Paperback]

Eve Bunting (Author), Kathryn Hewitt (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Follow the progress of a little girl and her father as they purchase "a garden," and board the bus to carry it home. The pansies, tulips, daffodils, geraniums, and daisies are lovingly planted in a window box, and the candles on the cake are lighted--just as Mom walks in the door to find her daughter, her husband, and her birthday surprise.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A girl and her father create a window box as a birthday present for her mother. PW said, "The plot scarcely portends the appeal of this lyrical, ebullient book." Ages 3-7. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 1-A comforting, richly illustrated story about a birthday surprise. An urban African-American girl and her father buy plants, potting soil, and a window box at the supermarket, ride the bus to their apartment, and put together a colorful gift for the child's mother. Rhyming verse carries the brief story, while wonderful, warm, full-color illustrations present scenes from novel angles, and depict a loving family with a sense of intimacy, sincerity, and joy. A reassuring choice for reading aloud.
Barbara Peklo Abrahams, Oneida City Schools, Manlius, NY
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (March 13, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152023720
• ISBN-13: 978-0152023720
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 8.8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #391,958 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Nature > Gardening
  • #26 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( B ) > Bunting, Eve
  • #36 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Nature > Gardening

More About the Author

Eve Bunting has written more than 200 books for children, many of which can be found in libraries around the world. Her other Clarion titles for very young readers include My Big Boy Bed, which was also illustrated by Maggie Smith, and Little Bear's Little Boat, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. She lives in Pasadena, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars bright colors,wonderful story for all ages, October 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Flower Garden (Hardcover)

my pre-school class found the book to be very exciting and could'nt wait for me to turn the next page.the bright colors of the cover and pages were so liking a good childrens book,that we planted a garden like described in the book.i have had parents ask where can they get this wonderful book for their own child. we really enjoyed it!this book described a family so close and loving,you can't help but smell the flowers and feel the love in that household.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Beautiful Lovely, February 11, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Flower Garden (Paperback)

We have a two-year-old daughter who picks this book out every day and every night to read. The illustrations are breathtaking. The story is simple but relevant; we follow every detail as the father and daughter walk the city street and ride the bus. We love to watch the daughter planting the flowers with her father; the mother coming home from school to see her birthday surprise. I have no doubt that this book will be with us for another generation or more (at least in our house). Thank you to the two wonderful artists who created such a special book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Simple, Beautiful Story of a Strong Family, May 21, 2009

By 

Shanna A. Gonzalez "eyelevelbooks.com" (Gaithersburg, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flower Garden (Paperback)

A very simple, beautifully illustrated story, told in gentle rhyme, of a young girl and her father embarking on a journey by bus to the grocery store to buy a window flower box. The purpose of the expedition is revealed when Mother walks in the door, carrying schoolbooks, to find the flowers, birthday cake and chocolate ice cream. The book ends with an image of the family cozily looking out the window over the flowers, which present a small oasis of beauty in a gray urban world.

This is a lovely depiction of a loving family spending their limited means extravagantly in an expression of love. The way this father includes his daughter in the project of honoring Mother's birthday expresses excellent leadership, good child training, and tenderness toward his wife. Implicit is the fact that this family works hard, with limited means, and that beauty means a great deal to them.