The Garden in the City [Hardcover]

Gerda Muller (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up

Gardening tips and ideas abound in a story about two children, Ben and Caroline, who discover the excitement in nurturing a flower bed and eating the vegetables that they grew themselves.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When their family moves, Ben and Caroline get a chance to have a garden of their own, "right in the middle of the city." Though not strictly a how-to, Muller's book combines--in a manner reminiscent of Linnea in Monet's Garden --a cozy, uncomplicated story with abundant practical information. Her polished, softly tinted paintings are as successful in their horticultural presentation as in their stylish cityscapes--replete with sidewalk vendors and walled houses. As the children learn gardening fundamentals, Muller diagrams such projects as pressing leaves, making a spider from pins--even an easy recipe for "Ben's fruit drink." A few points mislead: the garden plan shows the children's plots situated close to the north side of a wall, where they'd get little sun; Caroline is pictured sprinkling chemical fertilizer with bare hands, with the open bag next to her face--not a healthy practice. In addition, some directions are vague but, overall, the narrative, as it follows the siblings through the seasons, has an engaging quality. And though simplistic, much general nature lore is conveyed in just a few pages. Ages 5-10.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-- This pretty, purposeful book was first published in Germany. Caroline and Ben and their parents move to a new house in a European city and transform its neglected grounds into a beautiful garden. They are helped by elderly Aunt Lisa and by Luke, a wheelchair-bound neighbor. The detailed, colorful pictures have a continental flavor and a natural romantic style. The text seems to be a story, but is really a how-to gardening manual, including plans, tools, planting instructions, and nature crafts. Neither the story nor the information is successful: the plot is scattered, the writing is stiff, and the garden facts offer readers fast, unrealistic expectations. Too much has been attempted, and the result is choppy and distracting. --Carolyn Jenks, formerly at Oyster River Elementary School, Durham, NH
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (March 26, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525446974
• ISBN-13: 978-0525446972
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,811,190 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, November 29, 1999

By 

A. McIntire (Bowie, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Garden in the City (Hardcover)

My four year old son went out to our garden to start planting seeds as soon as we finished reading it the first time. And the second time. He still likes reading it and so do I.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Most-Beloved Book, May 31, 2011

By 

Beth Tebe (Glenview, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Garden in the City (Hardcover)

This book is a treasure. It's one of my all-time favorites. I taught for ten years in the public schools and always carried with me a special love for children's books. In The Garden in the City, the beautiful illustrations and the gentle story deeply touches the heart. An added value to this book is it includes educationally "hot" topics such as: sibling relationships, friendships between non-handicapped and handicapped children, seasons, gardening. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WE LOVE THIS BOOK!!, January 17, 2008

By 

Anita Wright - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Garden in the City (Hardcover)

I wish I could give it more then 5 stars. We just love this book. The pictures are beautiful, simple yet detailed. You could read it over and over and still see something new each time. The story is also very entertaining plus there are some really neat project ideas and instructions within the story.
We have some of the board books by Gerda Muller but my two year old really prefers this book. That's saying a lot because most books are nothing more to him then an opportunity to make confetti. Needless to say I supervise him a lot when he's looking through it but I have never seen him so quietly engrossed, and so gentle with any other book.