Over in the Garden [Hardcover]

Jennifer Ward (Author), Kenneth J. Spengler (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A one to ten counting book set in a lively garden. This playful counting book introduces readers to a garden and the animals that live there. Sing and clap to the tune of Over in the Meadow, while searching for the hidden numbers on each page!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

To the familiar tune of "Over in the Meadow," this counting book gets cozy with some ugly bugs. Ward and Spengler (Somewhere in the Ocean) magnify the creepy crawlers, from a slimy, liver-brown "mother snail and her little snails four" to a family of hairy brown spiders that leap toward the foreground through massive stems and leaves: "Over in the garden where the vines and berries mix Lived a little mother spider and her baby spiders six. `Jump!' said the mother. `We jump!' said the six. So they jumped through the garden where the vines and berries mix." Ward provides the song's musical notation and a glossary of larva and arachnids, but her rhymes are pedestrian. Spengler, too, adds extras he playfully hides the numerals in every spread and shows the bugs to come waiting in the wings but the close-ups magnify the creatures to such a degree that they may appear grotesque for some youngsters. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

reSchool-Grade 1-This new take on the familiar old counting rhyme features eye-catching garden critters. Bright, bold colors fill each gouache illustration in which giant insects with large, friendly cartoon-style eyes fill each spread. Helmet-shaped ladybugs, fuzzy bees, hairy spiders, a velvety butterfly, armored pill bugs, and five other species mingle with larger-than-life flowers, plant stems, and fruits. Hidden in each picture is a miniature image of the creature that will appear on the following spread and the numeral that indicates the number of creatures on the page. A short appended list of "Fun Facts" includes all of the insects and their families except the spider and the snail. Ward's book compares favorably with other versions of "Over in the Meadow" by John M. Langstaff and Feodor Rojankovsky (Harcourt, 1957), Ezra Jack Keats (Viking, 1999), and Jane Cabrera (Holiday, 2000), and a new version of Olive Wadsworth's original rhyme featuring illustrations by Anna Vojtech (North-South, 2002). While the others feature illustrations that are attractive, engaging, or sweet, those in Garden command attention.
Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Cooper Square Publishing Llc (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873587936
• ISBN-13: 978-0873587938
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #662,508 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jennifer Ward is the author of numerous books for children and parents, each celebrating the wonders of nature, including Way Out in the Desert, Somewhere in the Ocean, Over in the Garden, The Seed and the Giant Saguaro, The Little Creek, Forest Bright/Forest Night, There Was a Coyote Who Swallowed a Flea, Because You Are My Baby, Way Up in the Arctic, I Love Dirt! 52 Activities to Help You and Your Kids Discover the Wonders of Nature, and the forthcoming titles The Busy Tree (Marshall Cavendish, 2009), Let's Go Outside! Outdoor Activities and Projects to Get You and Your Kids Closer to Nature (Shambhala 2009), There Was an Old Monkey Who Swallowed a Frog (Marshall Cavendish 2010), and There Was an Odd Princess Who Swallowed a Pea (Marshall Cavendish 2011).

Her award-winning titles have been featured in magazines such as Ranger Rick, Your Big Backyard, Learning Magazine, Martha Stewart's Real Simple and Foreword, and she has been featured on national television and radio.

Her books have also received many honors, including the Giverny Award for Best Children's Science Picture Book, the American Booksellers Association "Book Sense Pick of the Lists", a Learning Magazine "Teachers' Choice Award for Best Children's Picture Book", a "Parents' Choice Award", a Governor's First Grade Book Selection for the states of New Jersey and Arizona, and a Grand Canyon Reader's Award winner and honors recipient, among others.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding on many levels!, February 23, 2004

By 

K. Hanneman "KH" (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Over in the Garden (Hardcover)

This is truely a charming book. We love it! It is good for children of all ages. When you finish singing the song and enjoying the bright colorful artwork try to find the hidden number on each page. If you master that you can look for the animal featured on the next page. It is hiding somewhere in the garden of the pre-page. Well written, interesting, and appeals to children of many ages. Also features a scientific rundown of various insects in the back and music to sing to. This book has everthing.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn to count with creepy crawlers., April 2, 2002

By 

Dari B. Wayne (Lawrenceville, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Over in the Garden (Hardcover)

Delightful counting book with in-your-face illustrations are perfect for boys and girls who like creepy, slimy and slithery insects, bugs, snakes and spiders. Words are to the familiar tune of "Over in the Meadow" and are simple enough for this age group (4-7) to learn quickly and join in as your read "Over in the Garden" over and over again. This is the third counting book in the same genre by Jennifer Ward and Kenneth J. Spengler. The original, "Way Out In the Desert" and their most recent, "Somewhere In The Ocean" (personal favorite) are visually fun and young children quickly learn their numbers along with a little bit of nature's information. Young boys will especially love this counting book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In with the bugs, January 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Over in the Garden (Hardcover)

My 4-year old son and I love this book. The rhymes are great and there are numerous opportunities for interactive participation from the child. My son likes me to read the first part of the verse and he completes the second part. He also likes to point out the numbers hidden on each page -- even though he has done it countless times. No matter how many times I read this, I never get tired of the crisp and beautiful illustrations. After you have gone through the ten garden creatures there is a very informative glossary of the different creatures in the book. Every time we pick a couple different ones to read about. Without a doubt this will remain one of our favorites.