Mortimer's First Garden (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Dan Andreasen (Illustrator)

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.)
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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.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry (February 24, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416942033
• ISBN-13: 978-1416942030
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 10.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #165,208 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Book by Karma Wilson!, February 27, 2009

By	annie "grannieannie" (Mid-MI) - See all my reviews

(What's this?)

Mortimer's First Garden is the second in Wilson's series of inspirational Christian kids' books about an adorable little mouse named Mortimer. We first met Mortimer in Mortimer's Christmas Manger, a cute Christmas story.

This story starts with Mortimer looking outside and saying, "Nothing but brown! Too dull, too drab, too dreary!" Mortimer longs to see something green. Anything green." Then Mortimer hears the people talking about planting seeds in a garden and the story touches my heart. I can hardly wait for warm weather and planting our garden which always includes Sunflowers.

Mortimer takes one of his three precious Sunflower seeds and plants it, giggling at the idea of throwing perfectly good food in the dirt, and he wonders about the springtime miracle the people are talking about. With absolutely beautiful illustrations and great storytelling skill, Wilson tells the story of Mortimer planting, waiting, praying, and watching his small seed grow into a beautiful tall sunflower.

My grandkids absolutely love this book. Last summer my young grandsons, 3 and 5, who love checking out everything in the garden, were absolutely fascinated by the rows of sunflowers. Walking among the sunflowers, we felt like we were in a "jungle" as the kids said. This is a perfect book for Spring and I highly recommend it!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Well written and illustrated, but overtly religious, February 26, 2009

By	Justin Gaines "Corporate Rocker" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

(What's this?)

My 3-year old son absolutely loves Karma Wilson's Bear books (OK, so do I), so I jumped at the chance to try her new, non-bear story Mortimer's First Garden. In this tale, Mortimer, a sunflower seed-munching little mouse, overhears the "big people" talking about planting a garden. Intrigued by the idea, Mortimer takes his last remaining sunflower seed and plants it outside, starting his very own garden.

I liked the general idea of the story, and my son and I really warmed to the charming Mortimer. The story runs a bit long though, and without the rhythmic cadence of Bear Snores On I found it hard to keep my son's attention at times. I was also surprised when, about 2/3 into the book, the story took a decidedly religious tone. The story actually serves as a pretty effective illustration of faith and its rewards, but obviously it will come as a shock for parents who aren't religious to suddenly find references to God on every page.

Dan Andreasen's illustrations were perfect for this kind of story, and he brought a lot of character to Mortimer in terms of facial expressions and the like. I prefer Jane Chapman's lush illustration, but Andreasen is a more than adequate substitute.

Unfortunately, the overtly religious nature of Mortimer's First Garden means that the book is not appropriate for all preschool age children. It's a shame, because I think the book's message of faith and patience could have been just as effective, and reached a wider audience, if Wilson took a little more subtle approach.

1 of 1 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

(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!