A Harvest of Color: Growing a Vegetable Garden [Hardcover]

Melanie Eclare (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2002 | Age Level: 4 and up

A group of neighborhood children transform a bare patch of earth into a vegetable garden. They learn simple but important lessons: to plant in straight rows, to thin seedlings, and the value of worms. They make notes on their efforts and compile useful lists of gardening tips. The result is a colorful, graphic scrapbook/diary/photo album. Turning her lens from growing a single sunflower (A Handful of Sunshine) to focus on planting and raising five vegetables, Melanie Eclare inspires young readers to reach for their trowels.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This cheery, oversize volume pairs British horticultural photographer Eclare's vibrant, sunny images with a breezily informative text. Each of five neighborhood children (plus one younger sibling) chooses a different vegetable to plant and also keeps a garden diary replete with snapshots. Their entries comment a bit on their choices ("I love carrots because they are sweet and crunchy. And I can share them with my pet rabbit") but concentrate on the process ("I sprinkled seeds into rows as deep as my thumbnail.... In about ten days little plants that looked like ferns showed through the soil"). A thoughtful page of hints ("Molly's Tips on Measuring a Garden"), one from each child, offers additional practical information. The photos affording colorful views of small hands, rich soil and the luscious harvest (including a terrific vegetable salad finale) are particularly inviting as they document each stage of the project. Eclare's streamlined approach caters to fledgling gardeners, and the conceit of adopting the various characters' perspectives works particularly well to instill confidence and enthusiasm. Readers will be scurrying for trowels and seed packets. Ages 4-8.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-A simple and clear book with stunning photos of fresh vegetables and charming children. The text is narrated by a young gardener as she and five friends discover the joys of growing their own food. When Sophie and company take over an empty lot, they transform it into a bountiful garden in just one season. Each child is in charge of one vegetable, and readers can learn the basic rules of gardening, simple procedures for novices, and specific tips from each of the group. At harvest time, the youngsters make a salad to share. The easy recipe is included. There are numerous books on how to garden with kids, but this one is pretty to look at as well as instructive. This is a special book, created by the gardening editor of a British magazine. The photos are colorful, appealing, and lush; the layout is attractive and adults will enjoy browsing. However, there is only slight child appeal here. The text is prosaic rather than descriptive, and the tone too reverent for youngsters to identify with. Still, this lovely book will find its place with primary-grade teachers and libraries with large garden or food collections.
Beth Tegart, Oneida City Schools, NY
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Ragged Bear; 1 edition (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929927312
• ISBN-13: 978-1929927319
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 11.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,212,065 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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