Mortimer's First Garden [Hardcover]

Karma Wilson (Author), Dan Andreasen (Illustrator)

Book Description

Winter is just over, the sky is gray, and the ground is brown. Little Mortimer Mouse munches on sunflower seeds and longs to see something green.

Upon overhearing the story of how springtime rain and sunshine nurture little seeds to grow into great big green plants, Mortimer is skeptical but decides to plant one of his seeds, just to see if such a miracle really can happen. Mortimer finds a perfect sport to plant the seed, and then...he waits.

And waits.

And waits.

Impatient, Mortimer thinks nothing is ever going to happen to the little seed. But then something does happen. Something wonderful. Something divine. Something green!

First introduced in the bestselling Mortimer's Christmas Manger, Mortimer Mouse returns with gutso in this inspirational offering that celebrates the miracle of springtime.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The mouse introduced in Mortimer's Christmas Manger continues on his journey of faith and enlightenment. Mortimer can't imagine that seeds have any use beyond the immediate gratification of being eaten, but when he sees the human family in his house plant a garden, he decides to use his last sunflower seed to give it a whirl himself. As in many of Wilson's books, the religious message is explicit. Convinced that the miracle won't happen, tempted to dig up the seed and eat it, Mortimer hears the voice of God: Wait. Suddenly, even though he was drenched with rain, writes Wilson, Mortimer felt warm and protected. With hard work and prayer, Mortimer produces a miracle sunflower and a bumper crop of seeds, which in turn prompts the book's final teachable moment: And please, God, says a fat and contented Mortimer, I wouldn't mind a friend to help me eat these. Andreasen channels the style of Jane Chapman, who illustrated the previous title; the transition will go unremarked. Ages 4–8. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2—The mouse from Mortimer's Christmas Manger (S & S, 2005) is back in a lovely story about spring and growing things. As he is staring outside at a brown landscape and wishing for green, Mortimer overhears a mother and two children talking about a "springtime miracle," discussing planting one small seed and getting back many seeds. He looks at his last precious sunflower seed and decides to plant it. Somewhat dubious about results, he waits and waits and hopes for a miracle. With a little help from God, who counsels him to be patient, Mortimer finally gets results—a tall, glorious sunflower with many seeds to gather, eat, and use for next year's garden. As he cozies down into his bed of seeds, he thanks God and prays for a friend to share his bounty with, and a smiling black spider settles down nearby. This is a beautifully fashioned picture book, with delicate pastel oil illustrations that perfectly convey the changes brought by spring. The faded tan and peach backdrops gradually transform to pale blues and greens, reflecting the warming weather. Mortimer's feelings of doubt and hope are portrayed with great appeal. A fine choice for little gardeners everywhere.—Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (February 24, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416942033
• ISBN-13: 978-1416942030
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #589,720 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm a wife, mother of three, writer and photographer. I love to write fun stories, poems, songs, etc... I especially love to write in rhyme because I think that well written rhyme naturally teaches children to expand their vocabulary and love books and reading.

I spend my time in the wilds of northwest Montana, where there are lots of bears and animals like the ones in my bear books! I love the wilderness and all of the animals that live there. My husband and children are also avid lovers of the outdoors.

I am also an amateur photographer. Give me a camera and I'll spend hours snapping photos.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars cute book about a mouse, February 25, 2009

By 

Terri "3kids-at-home" (Crescent City, California United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Mortimer's First Garden (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

This book is adorable and made for children ages 4-8 years old. It's about a mouse named Mortimer, and his garden. He is undecided whether to eat his sunflower seed, or plant it in the garden. He decides to plant it, and when it finally grows up, he thanks God excitedly, and keeps on thanking God throughout the book. The book ends with Mortimer sleeping on his pile of sunflower seeds totally content, and asking God for a new friend to help him eat all those seeds, as he has plenty to share. A very cute story about patience, and joy, and being thankful for the simple things in life.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sharing how God makes things grow..., February 25, 2009

By 

Anne (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Mortimer's First Garden (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

When my daughters have asked me why it rains, I have told them that God sends the rain to water the plants and grass so that they can grow. Then I have explained to them that the plants need water and sun to grow.

This sweet picture book tells the story I have told my children about how plants grow from the perspective of a little mouse named Mortimer. He plants a seed when he hears people talk about how seeds grow into big plants. He waters the seed and waits. In the course of the story, Mortimer sees how God makes plants grow with the rain and sun. And when the sunflower grows big and there are more seeds than he can count, he thanks God for the sunflower.

My girls loved this story and understood exactly what happened it it. It is very age appropriate for preschoolers. My girls are 3 and 5. We all the loved the pictures as well--this book was done by the same author and illustrator as Bear Snores On and Bear Stays Awake (two of our favorites).

My girls and I highly recommend this book!

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great story - enjoyed more if you believe in God., February 24, 2009

By 

Denali (PA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Mortimer's First Garden (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

I selected this book because it seemed to be a very nice story about a mouse planting his first garden and learning about the wonders of Spring. However, the description of this book is misleading. It does not mention the fact that God tells the mouse to wait for the seed to grow, and that the mouse thanks God for the plant and the mouse prays to God to have a friend to help him eat all the seeds.

The story, irrespective of the religious slant, is a cute story. For me, I would have preferred that the religious tone be left out of the book, OR, it should have been mentioned in the description. Then readers of various faiths could make the INFORMED decision on whether to purchase the book or not.