Mrs. Spitzer's Garden [Hardcover]

Edith Pattou (Author), Tricia Tusa (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 14, 2001 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years

Mrs. Spitzer is a wise teacher who knows many things. She knows about gardens. She knows about children. She knows how similar they are, and how both will flourish if tended lovingly.
There are many remarkable teachers like Mrs. Spitzer in the world, and Edith Pattou's simple, moving story along with Tricia Tusa's inspired, whimsical illustrations celebrate all they do, year after year, to help our children grow and blossom.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At the end of each summer, the principal of Tremont Elementary School "walks down the hall to Mrs. Spitzer's room and gives her a packet of seeds." The cheerily appointed classroom (stocked with a gerbil, a rug with real hopscotch squares and a "dress-up corner") seems to augur a run-of-the-mill kindergarten tale, but Pattou (Hero's Song) soon launches her story into the realm of metaphor. Mrs. Spitzer's "seeds" are duly planted and tenderly nurtured, and while some "grow quickly, pushing upward, eager, impatient," others "grow more slowly, unfolding themselves bit by bit." As the seasons progress, the little plants grow sturdier, until finally the school year comes to a close and Mrs. Spitzer's job is done. Pattou relates her parable in straightforward yet gentle prose, leaving the whimsy to Tusa's (Maebelle's Suitcase) pen-and-watercolor illustrations. Giving the flowers eager little faces and different personalities, she amplifies the theme so that even youngest readers will understand the true identity of Mrs. Spitzer's "plants." Whether outlining the happy clutter of classroom and garden or the flowers themselves, Tusa's artwork is almost infectiously merry. Paying visual homage to typical kindergarten art, this sweet story will shore up beginning students' expectations of classroom life. Ages 3-7.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-Mrs. Spitzer, a teacher, spends her days tending her flowers. Cheerful cartoon scenes follow her progress as the principal gives her a packet of seeds at the end of summer, and she takes up her garden tools to tend the soil, plant and water the seeds, fend off pests and weeds, and happily watch the progress of the sprouts. "Some of the plants grow quickly, pushing upward, eager, impatient.-Some are silvery and quiet, the color of the earth." Birds, bugs, and plants are personified with faces, hats, and kerchiefs. Congenial Mrs. Spitzer works energetically through the seasons-though there is no winter-and at the end of the year hangs her hat on her wheelbarrow and puts away her calendar and plan book to wait for the new school year. The closing view of the classroom includes children's artwork depicting the flowers, animals, and pumpkins. The garden is intended as a metaphor for the classroom; the carefully tended plants represent Mrs. Spitzer's students. It's hard to say who will recognize the analogy. Children of an age to identify with the kindergarten-style classroom are apt to see this literally as a garden story. Some will recognize that the seasonal scheme is backward. Some teachers may use the euphemistic scheme to introduce the idea of symbolism, but most kids this age prefer their lessons to be a bit more grounded in reality.-Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; ILL edition (May 14, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152019782
• ISBN-13: 978-0152019785
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 10.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,513 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Teachers, you must start the year with this book! August 14, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

What a joy to read! The illustrations are beautiful and add details to the reading. It's summertime and the principal gives Mrs. Spitzer some seeds to plant in her garden. She does all the right things and up come the sprouts. Plants and children--a wonderful analogy of what goes on in a classroom during the year. Teachers, you can't miss making the text-to-self connections. Kids love to hear this book too.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A fable for every teacher November 4, 2006

By N. A. Sartori

Format:Hardcover

This beautifully written tale describes every teacher's journey with his/her class through the school year. Yet, it is accessible to students as well. My students loved it as much as I did. However, I must issue this warning--reading this book aloud to your class may cause embarassment...you might cry in front of your students!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars No Plant Left Behind November 12, 2005

By Gwynne C. Spencer

Format:Hardcover

Ms.Spitzer cultivates every manner of plant--the slow bloomer, the wild weed, the late sprouter--the way good teachers cultivate learners. Not with tests, not with homework, but with love and patience, care and certainty that effort will be rewarded. If you have a child in kindergarten, please please please buy this book and give it to the teacher as a gift for some holiday--along with a packet of your favorite seeds and a picture of your child. If you buy the book for yourself and lend it to ANY teacher, you're not likely to get it back. It's that good. I wish every principal in every school would read this out loud at the first faculty meeting of the year, too!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars THE PERFECT GIFT FOR YOUR FAVORITE TEACHER May 6, 2007

By Pamela A. Poddany VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Tuesday, May 8th is National Teacher Day. What a perfect gift for your favorite teacher or your child's favorite teacher.

MY favorite teacher is my daughter who teaches first grade. This book is wonderfully written and beautifully illustrated. The illustrations will be enjoyed by young and old alike. The story line is charming and caring.

Mrs. Spitzer starts each new season with new seeds she has planted. Throughout the year she watches them grow and blossom. What a lovely story this book tells about teaching and children.

I can't wait to give this gift to my daughter. I am sure it will be one she will treasure for years to come.

Thank you!

Pam

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Mrs. Spritzers Garden February 20, 2007

By A. Bowthorpe

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book to give a fabulous pre-school teacher. If you have a teacher that has really made a difference to your young child- this might be the book for you.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book about teachers January 11, 2007

By Armchair Interviews

Format:Hardcover

Mrs. Spitzer is a teacher at Tremont Elementary School in Room #108. That's an important number because each year, at summer's end, the school principal brings Mrs. Spitzer a packet of seeds. All year Mrs. Spitzer tends to the seeds. She waters them, feeds them, and makes sure they have sun and room to grow. And she watches them carefully because she doesn't want pests or weeds to intrude.

And at the end of the growing season, Mrs. Spitzer is happy because she sees her seeds bloom. When the year is over, her job is complete, but the seeds that grew into beautiful flowers will keep on growing and maturing, thanks to her help.

Mrs. Spitzer knows about children and plants. She knows that they often need the same things to bloom.

When I first opened Mrs. Spitzer's Garden I thought it was a children's book (it can be enjoyed by children) but it really is a lovely thank you to that special teacher who loves and cares for your child during the school year. That teacher is much like a gardener. Very much like Mrs. Spitzer.

This is a thoughtful gift to the teacher who has touched a child's life. The illustrations are warm, cozy and inviting.

Armchair Interviews says: The perfect gift for your child's favorite teacher!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Book About Teachers June 25, 2006

By P. ODell

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

A friend told me about this book and since then, I've given it to all my children's teachers. The illustrations are lovely - it is touching and sweet.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Mrs. Spitzer's Garden-a hit at our house! September 16, 2001

By "gwynnenc"

Format:Hardcover

Cute, cute, cute. This is a darling book with delightful illustrations. The flowers have faces, which fascinate our 2 year old. She just loves it. It's colorful and cheerful and a real delight to read. It's one of the first ones she chooses to read before bedtime. A great book for toddlers and parents too!