Customer Reviews

Mortimer's First Garden

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

I gave this book a try because I greatly enjoyed the author's book I Will Rejoice: Celebrating Psalm 118. Like that book, Mortimer's First Garden is written from an overtly Christian perspective.

A little mouse named Mortimer is about to eat his last seed when he overhears the humans in the house talking about planting for the spring. The idea of planting his seed and getting more food sounds like a miracle to him, but he decides to try it. With some hard work, he gets it planted, only to be discouraged at the time it takes for the seed to start growing. But with patience, and continued hard work, the seed grows into a big sunflower plant yielding lots of seeds. All along the way, Mortimer recognizes God's hand in the miracle of the seed growing, but also recognizing His provision.

This book is appropriate for a read-aloud to the 3 to 8 yo set. The text is very readable. The illustrations are quite engaging, with Mortimer coming across as quite cute. Good lessons are taught about patience, perseverance, hard work, faith, prayer, gardening, and God. A few reviews complain that the author would have had a nice book appealing to more if she left God out, but personally, I appreciate her pointing to God's provision and God's hand in the process. This isn't done in a preachy or overdone way, but just Mortimer responding to God in his joy.

Mortimer really fills the role of a young child unfamiliar with gardening. The part where he overhears the humans is slightly awkward. It could have been done with a child as the main character, and to be honest, that would have been my preference. Mice don't pray, and though God cares for mice (and other animals), His relationship with them is not the same as with man. But, for me, this was a minor drawback.

My three girls, ages 3, almost 5, and 6 1/2, all enjoyed the book a lot, and so did my 8 1/2 year old son who is a gardening enthusiast. I anticipate reading this book many times in the years ahead, as well as buying it for my young nieces and nephews. I would definitely recommend this book to Christian parents with children of preschool and early elementary ages.

Mortimer Mouse sat on the window sill looking out at the dreary, ugly landscape of early springtime. It wasn't much to look at and he "longed to see something green." He decided to nibble on one of his sunflower seeds he'd saved for a treat when all of a sudden a mother, trailed by a boy and girl, came into the room. They were yelling something about a garden and he had no idea what they were talking about. "Do you have all your seeds?" asked the mother. Any mouse with any sense about him would be interested in seeds. He began to listen.

The mother began to tell the children all about how to grow them and said something about "a springtime miracle." Mmmmm . . . throwing good seeds into the dirt was crazy when they could eat them instead. Mortimer began to think about this garden and decided to plant his sunflower seed. He found the "perfect spot," planted and watered his seed. The next morning when he looked there was nothing. The day after that . . . nothing! Mortimer decided that a little prayer wouldn't hurt. "I will wait, God. But please make my seed grow." Do you think that God would listen to a little tiny mouse?

This was an adorable story in which the text and the whimsical artwork both seemed to contribute equally to the overall appeal of the tale of Mortimer Mouse and his wish for a miracle. This tale subtly tells the young child that they need to be patient and things don't happen overnight. This book, a packet of seeds and a few garden tools would be a perfect gift for a young child. Don't forget to buy a few sunflower seeds for Mortimer!

Mortimer's First Garden is a wonderful children's book that shows how a little hard work, having hope and patience, and listening for God, even in the face of adverse circumstances, can reap a great reward. Surprisingly big lessons from a sweet and simple children's book like this one. My son and I enjoyed this book from the start and it remains a favorite with us.

Mortimer is a mouse that, in the start of the book, has three sunflower seeds to eat. It's late wintertime and all is gray outside. The little mouse, while eating his seeds, is bored with the dull winter weather and is ready to see green again. Overhearing the humans (Mom and her kids) talking about planting a beautiful garden using little seeds perks Mortimer's curiosity to try it for himself. Using the last of his sunflower seeds, which he would normally eat, he plants himself a garden.

Over time, Mortimer gets discourage when he sees nothing happening and all it does it rain. All he can think is that he wasted the last yummy sunflower seed to eat and it's now rotting in the ground. Just as he's ready to give up on the garden and reclaim his seed before it's too late, a small voice speaks to him and tells him to wait. And he does.

His decision to be patient reaps wonders for Mortimer as he sees his seed grow into a small plant. In turn, Mortimer works hard to keep his seed clear from weeds and is well cared for. And the plant continues to grow. Not only does it grow, it grows BIG where Mortimer can climb and see for miles. Then it blooms to Mortimer's delight as he never imagined that it would do that. Finally, Mortimer is rewarded with hundreds of seeds to enjoy - beyond his expectations. Not only did Mortimer reap plenty of yummy seeds to eat (and share with a friend), but now he's saving some of his seeds for the next garden.

Mortimer's First Garden is a wonderful children's book. Kudos to the author and artist. I'm grateful for books like these that are not only wonderfully simple stories to read but also gives me an opportunity to teach my child values that last a lifetime.

This is such a perfect springtime book for a child who is curious about the nature and outdoors. It will bring back your own childhood memories of playing in the garden and learning about how plants grow. You can't go wrong with this book.

This book tells the story of a little mouse who longs for something green, but doesn't believe anything could grow from a tiny little seed. He is very impatient in the beginning and is ready to give up on his little seed several times when day after day nothing is happening, but after all his hard work and persistence, the seed finally sprouts!

I thought this book was an awesome compliment to the spring time ritual of planting with my son. At 3, he is very interested in helping and excited to see the results, but doesn't really have the foresight to believe that Mommy isn't crazy when she says soon we'll have beautiful flowers in the garden. This book did a fantastic job of convincing him that it really is a spring time miracle and helped him be patient throughout the process. Plus he calls every rodent he sees in the pet store "Mortimer" now. Too cute!

Very well written book that keeps everyones attention. This story is a great way to introduce children to the miracle of growth from a tiny seed. While reading the story, my kids were engaged the whole time and I could tell they really enjoyed the story. The illustrations are beautiful; bright and cheerful.

The story is about a mouse who over hears a family talking about planting their seeds in the ground to start a garden. He can't believe they would throw perfectly yummy seeds in the dirt. All the while he is munching on a few of his own sunflower seeds. After listening, he is then persuaded to try it for himself with his last sunflower seed. He plants it in the ground and waits and prays for a miracle. All the while, wondering if he made the right decision. You'll have to read for yourself to know if he reaped the rewards for his trust and patience.

In Mortimer's First Garden, Karma Wilson's newest book, the beloved mouse returns with a story of spring, faith and miracles.

As he looks out over the brown earth, Mortimer, about to eat his last few sunflower seeds, wishes things were green again. Then he hears a family talk about putting their seeds in the dirt to make a garden. With sun, rain and time the seeds will grow to produce more seed and more food! Mortimer laughs with doubt. How could burying food make plants? Just as he's about to eat his last seed, he decides to give it a try.

He plants his last sunflower seed in just the right spot then waters it carefully. The next day it rains. And the next day. Mortimer is about to dig up his seed before it rots to nothing when he hears a voice say "Wait." "Only it wasn't just a voice. It was a feeling in Mortimer's heart." The small mouse realizes it's God. In obedience, he waits. He prays and he waters and he waits until one day a plant emerges from the dirt. He's witnessed a miracle! After thanking God, Mortimer looks at his tiny plant and notices a weed nearby. He works had throughout the spring and summer to water the plant daily and keep the weeds away. Soon yellow appears on his plant: a sunflower! Another miracle.

Dan Andreasen serves as illustrator. His work, sweet and detailed, offers lots of color and whimsy. The full-page illustrations provide a perfect compliment to the author's text.

What I Like: Everything. It's a great book that teaches nature and faith. I particularly appreciate that Mortimer's prayers aren't immediately answered. He doesn't receive his miracle right away, but rather has to wait patiently. His faith is stretched much like ours. This is an encouragement and an example for children just learning to grow their faith in the unseen God and the nature He created.

Tanya -- Christian Children's Book Review