Sow and Grow: A Gardening Book for Children (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Kids are captivated by growing things. They’re fascinated by the way a seed, when planted, watered, and cared for, sprouts into a baby plant that’s soon putting out its first roots and leaves. Inspired by children’s innate affinity for gardening, Tina Davis has created Sow and Grow—a year’s worth of playtime ideas that combine fun and learning with a child’s sense of wonder at the natural world.

In this, the third in her enchantingly designed series of children’s books, Davis has devised a calendar of indoor-gardening and related activities, all linked to seasonal celebrations and changes: For April, she suggests planting tiny spring gardens in eggshells. For September, pressing late-summer flowers and autumn leaves. For December, decorating the house with living greenery. Each activity is described in child-friendly language—and parents are invited to participate!

Sow and Grow also acquaints children with the basics of plant biology, teaching them the meanings of words like “fruit” and “flower” and explaining the roles of light, air, and water in plants’ development. Like Davis’s other books, Sow and Grow is illustrated with charming vintage drawings from children’s books of the past. Its lay-flat wire-o binding makes it easy to refer to during use.

About the Author

Graphic designer Tina Davis, the principal of Tina Davis Design, counts Knopf, Abrams, and Chronicle Books among her clients. She holds an MFA from Yale and a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. Davis is also the author of Stewart Tabori and Chang’s Look and Cook and See and Sew. She lives in Israel and Pound Ridge, New York.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Stewart, Tabori & Chang (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584796731
• ISBN-13: 978-1584796732
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #393,802 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Focused on specific projects, not gardening per se, September 16, 2008

By	John in PDX - See all my reviews

It's my own fault for not checking before buying, to make sure it had the content I was looking for. But other entries in this series (Look and Cook, See and Sew) have been both charming and practical, so I wasn't concerned.

There's really nothing wrong with this book. It's just that if you're looking for a way to introduce gardening to children, and you think of gardening as being outside digging and weeding and whatnot, this book has a focus you won't find very useful.

There is a different project for each month. Forcing blooms on a branch, for example, or pressing flowers. These are definitely ways of being involved with nature and plants. But they seem kind of tangental, or maybe just too subcategory, to gardening as a whole--almost like holding nature at arm's length and reducing it to a decoration or a curiousity.

It's full of the usual great collection of vintage illustrations. But if you're looking for a way to get out there and garden with kids, check out the related links under "customers who bought this also bought..."

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Children are curious about and fascinated with nature, May 8, 2008

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Children are curious about and fascinated with nature. Couple this curiosity with the experience of gardening and the result will be a child that appreciates the fruits, vegetables, and grains that nature has to offer. "Sow And Grow: A Gardening Book For Children" is specifically designed and written by Tina Davis to provide young readers with a calendar of indoor-gardening and related activities, each of which is linked to seasonal celebrations and changes. Beautifully illustrated throughout, "Sow And Grow" begins with basic explanations of the various parts of plants from seed to flower to fruit. Then addresses what plants need to thrive. Then beginning with January and working through to December, specific and 'kid friendly' projects are provided with step-by-step instructions. January is 'Growing Plants from Seeds', May is 'Window Boxes', September is 'Pressing Flowers and Leaves', December is 'Decorating and Caring for Houseplants'. Enhanced with extensive Gardening Notes, "Sow And Grow" is enthusiastically recommended for both family and community library Gardening reference and instructional guide collections for children.

5.0 out of 5 stars GORGEOUS BOOK!, June 28, 2009

By	F. Bergin (NSW, Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a beautiful book. It is a conglomerate of pictures and text from various vintage publications. It is suited for girls and has lots of super cute and fun activities for indoors and outdoors. This is a GREAT gift idea. I love looking at the back of the book at the credits and seeing just how old some of the illustrations are! You will not be disappointed!