From Publishers Weekly
In this how-to book in the guise of a story, Ganny Bun tutors her grandson, Tiny Bun, on the "six things you need to grow a garden." Brief horticultural discussions between them serve as prefaces to Guest's (a nationally syndicated gardening columnist and magazine publisher) easy-to-follow instructions. The half dozen essentials, explained in accessible terms, are: preparing the soil; planting the seeds (e.g., place cucumber seeds in four mounds, "at least two feet from one another and about the size of home plate on a baseball field"); watering the seeds; sunshine; time (during which aspiring gardeners can cultivate the garden by weeding, etc.); and lastly, love. "If you [care for your garden] right, by the end of July, you'll be able to play hide-and-seek among the cornstalks," conclude the instructions. The final page makes the rewards crystal clear: the gardeners, as well as a beaver that hides on each spread, enjoy a vegetarian feast. Krupinski's (Where Is That Cat?) elegant gouache and color pencil drawings pulse with the details of blossoms opening and leaves unfurling. Though the characters seem static in a few of the larger illustrations, the smaller vignettes are charming and provide lively punctuation for the gardening guidelines. Ages 4-7. (Mar.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 1-Tiny Bun and his friend Little Mouse create a luscious vegetable garden with the guidance of "loving, wise, and very cool" Ganny Bun. The step-by-step directions explain how to plant and grow carrots, green beans, corn, cucumbers, and sunflowers. The children listen carefully as Ganny Bun stresses the importance of soil, seeds, water, sun, time, and love to produce the crops, and they delight in their harvest. Colored-pencil and gouache illustrations show all of the phases of their work. The art is flat, winsome, and decorative. Pages with instructions feature several small pictures accompanying the steps. The writing is clear and matter-of-fact. Little gardeners will enjoy this sweet book.
Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
