Great Gardens for Kids (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Clive Nichols (Photographer)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Garden designer Matthews packs her book with ideas for creating gardens that are interesting, entertaining, and educational for children and the young at heart. The projects are divided into the type of activity, such as active play, a place of one's own, pet-friendly areas, and gardening, and come with clearly written instructions. Additionally, clever ideas for garden parties for Easter, a summer's day, and Halloween are provided, as are safety tips. The book concludes with a look at real-life examples showing that kids' gardens can be attractive and fun. Floodgate (Your Wedding Planner) offers bedroom decorating ideas for infants up to teens. Projects range from simple, such as gluing beads to decorate a mirror, to complex, e.g., building a storage unit. There are instructions for all of the projects, but some require a few basic skills. Books like Wendy A. Jordan's The Kidspace Idea Book cover similar material, so purchase only if there is a strong interest in this subject. Gardens is recommended for all public libraries.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

For those who grew up believing gardens were only for grown-ups, Matthews celebrates the antithesis of the look-but-don't-touch, no-kids-allowed landscapes with whimsical garden projects designed especially for the young, and the young-at-heart. By investing just a bit of time and elbow grease, but very little money, grown-up gardens can be transformed into playtime paradises. Not only will flowers flourish, but children will also blossom in these captivating gardens that encourage imaginative play while fostering a love of nature. Matthews carefully walks even the most tool challenged adult through easy step-by-step instructions for more than 35 dynamic projects, each one temptingly depicted in eye-popping photographs. Amusing alternatives to the ubiquitous hardware depot play station abound. A brightly painted tire and some splashy kite fabric update the standard sandbox into a sensational Sailboat Sandpit, while knotted ropes are woven into a spider's web meant for climbing. Some projects are so cool, parents will want them all for themselves, but remember: it's better to share! Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Hamlyn (October 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0600605167
• ISBN-13: 978-0600605164
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,480,151 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Colorful and Inspirational Creative Ideas Book, July 20, 2004

By	Dawn Woolcott (Vancouver WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book contains vivid, colorful, well-photographed images of unique design ideas for those contemplating creating a garden space for their children. If you want to go beyond the ho-hum play structure that costs a bundle, and add something to spark the creative child lurking within your child, this book is for you. Ideas like a rill for sailboat races, turning an old tire into a bright blue sailboat sandbox, a fold-away play house, and setting a trampoline flush with the lawn all inspired me. The authors got a bit off course with a section on holidays in the garden, but otherwise a great book - - if you have the energy to actually garden when you have children!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, inspirational book, February 16, 2004

By A Customer

This book is a delight for the eye, even if you never get around to translating any of the very many ideas for child-friendly gardens into reality. However, the suggestions are so inspiring that you will itch to create them in your own back yard - whether a rope spiderweb for climbing or a grass stool or a clematis teepee to hide away in.

If I have any criticism it is that sometimes the instructions take a back seat to the luscious photography. Slightly more detailed instructions would have been a help and a comfort to those of us who are not consummate do-it-yourself-ers.

My children enjoyed leafing through this as much as I did and when we run out of space in our own small garden, we will start taking over the grandparents' garden! There are just so many nice projects we want to undertake!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Absolute Favorite, October 7, 2005

By	Mary Ellen (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Great Gardens for Kids (Hamlyn Gardening S.) (Paperback)

I finally bought this book after repeatedly renewing it from our public library! It has great ideas, with easy to follow instructions. So many of the ideas can be easily incorporated into our back yard scheme. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a way to make your backyard a garden haven for your kids!