And the Good Brown Earth [Hardcover]

Kathy Henderson (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 8, 2004 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A patient Gram and her spirited grandson follow the cycle of the seasons as they savor the shared joy of growing things.

Gram and Joe are great friends, and they love to spend time together, taking care of the vegetable patch-with a little help from nature, of course. But it takes a lot of patience. There’s digging time, planting time, weeding time, watering time, even thinking time. Meanwhile, the seasons change, and Gram does things her way, while Joe does things his way. Come harvest time, they each will find wondrous surprises, thanks to the benevolence of the good brown earth.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

PreS. Henderson, the author of The Baby Dances, a 1999 Booklist Editor's Choice selection, contributes both words and pictures in this lovely, rhythmic celebration of growing things. Throughout the seasons, Gram and little Joe work independently but side-by-side on their gardens, planning, planting, watering, weeding, and waiting. At harvest time, both have grown beautiful vegetables--Gram's in neat rows; Joe's "higgledy-piggledy, tangly, FANTASTIC!" Henderson writes in simple, musical poetry that evokes the delicious, "squashy," "squelching" physicality of garden work, and the mixed-media illustrations of a garden teeming with plants and creatures have a waxy texture that, while sometimes indistinct, nicely extends the awe and mystery in the refrain: "The good brown earth got on with doing what the good brown earth does best." Best, though, is Joe's freedom to discover, follow his instincts, and create something wonderful on his own. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Each beautifully detailed picture is merged with text that reflects... the experience of growing things for the first time." Carousel" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick; 1 edition (March 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763623016
• ISBN-13: 978-0763623012
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,186,435 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fresh look at the cycle of the seasons, August 11, 2005

By 

waldorf_curric - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: And the Good Brown Earth (Hardcover)

Don't I just love that I have a nephew named Joe whose grandmother is called Gram! I can't wait to give this book to them as a gift along with a set of child's gardening tools. This book is a heartwarming tale for any child to read, however, so don't hesitate to ask your librarian for this one. The book carries a young child along with the cycle of planting and growing things in the garden. Every part of the cycle is the time for something, "digging time", "thinking time", "planting time", "weeding time", "resting time", etc. and this message is an especially good one for a child beginning to absorb the unhealthy concept of instant gratification - teach your children that everything happens in its own good time and to enjoy ALL parts of the cycle. In terms of gift giving, this is a good book for the winter holidays since it shows that the cycle of growing begins in the winter, not in the spring, as the earth rests and renews itself in preparation. The illustrations are joyous although they might be a little to loosely painted for some; we all have our own tastes in this regard. I loved this book and can't wait to read it each winter to remind my daughter of all the riches hiding in the earth down under the snow, waiting, waiting to be set free in the springtime...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars THE JOY OF CHANGING SEASONS, March 24, 2004

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: And the Good Brown Earth (Hardcover)

A story of a year's changing seasons is always illuminating for children, especially for those so young that waiting for winter to turn into summer seems an eternity. Pair that progression with the growing of edibles, as in "The Good Brown Earth," and you have a peaceful story that will help youngsters appreciate the world in which we live.

Joe and his grandmother are the best of friends. They spend a great deal of time together tending to a vegetable patch. As the story opens it is fall and the pair are turning over the earth. Their next visit to the patch takes place during the winter as Gram thinks about all the good things in her gardening book, and Joe builds a snowman.

Of course, spring follows for planting and summer for growth. Best of all is the harvest when all "Gram's plants are standing tall and ripe and lush."

Repeated throughout is the phrase "And the good brown earth got on with doing what the good brown earth does best," a reminder of the value of our soil.

5.0 out of 5 stars And the sweet and wonderful story..., May 1, 2011

By 

A. Williams - See all my reviews

This review is from: And the Good Brown Earth (Paperback)

What a sweetly simple story about the transformation of a plot of "good brown earth" to a full fledged garden!

I love how Gram takes Joe with her to her garden spot and shows him what goes into the growing of a garden. Joe is even given a bit of land to grow his own garden (the results are wonderful!).

There's nothing overly specific, technical or scientific here, but in a way that's what makes it so wonderful, and for children who aren't familiar with how plants grow, it's a great introduction.

We visit the garden in various stages and seasons and the illustrations are so delightful and they not only illustrated the story but added to it as well.

Definitely recommended!