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Rosario's Fig Tree Hardcover – March 17, 2015

by Charis Wahl (Author), Luc Melanson (Illustrator)

3 customer reviews

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Every spring the little girl who lives next door to Rosario helps him plant vegetables. One spring, Rosario plants a fig tree, which soon bears sweet purple fruit. But when fall comes, he bends it over and buries it in the ground. What kind of magic is Rosario performing? The next spring, on planting day, the little girl and Rosario make holes for tomato plants, push in stakes for beans and plant other vegetables. Then Rosario begins to unearth the buried fig tree. It looks dead, for sure. But one hot sunny day, a fresh green leaf appears. Inspired by her next-door neighbor, Charis Wahl has written a sweet and simple story about a little girl’s first-hand experience with the magic of gardening. The story is complemented by Luc Melanson’s gently humorous illustrations.

Rosario's Fig Tree

$15.70 FREE Shipping on orders with at least $25 of books. Only 5 left in stock (more on the way). Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2—"Garden magician" Rosario has a friend and helper next door who devotedly follows his miraculous effect on things that grow. His garden is full of vegetables—radicchio, potatoes, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, cucumbers, and eggplants. Each day, the girl next door marvels at his knowledge: "He knows the perfect day to put in every plant and seed. It never snows or gets too cold after that." The elderly gardener's addition of a fig tree entrances the child as it provides friends and neighbors with sweet fruit all summer, but she is mystified and deeply concerned when the tree receives a "burial" and then disappears, covered in snow through the winter. As the cycle turns and the warmth brings back Rosario's helpful friends, their sage counsel, a resurgence of green everywhere, and a tiny new leaf on the fig tree, this first-person narrative emphasizes the bond between generations, the value of learning, and the passing on of knowledge. "No magic…You just learn, and then you know." Illustrations include full-page digital paint images and smaller, more focused and telescoped views of the narrator, Rosario, and his garden within a palette of warm gold, greens and brown. Exaggerated heads on slender frames, the faces in profile and large, expressive eyes convey a host of emotions and the warmth between a young girl and her dear friend. VERDICT Perfect to introduce the wonder of growing things, this title is a recommended general purchase.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX

Review

"[A] story of cross-cultural neighborliness." — New York Times

"Melanson’s digital art has a charming oddness, capped by a witty scene of Rosario and his elderly Italian friends debating." — New York Times

"This sweetly thoughtful story explores life and the wonders of gardening, as well as the edifying nature of intergenerational friendships." — Booklist

"A child's wonder at the care it takes to make things grow and the joys of fresh figs make an engaging story." — Kirkus Reviews

"Perfect to introduce the wonder of growing things, this title is a recommended general purchase for all libraries." — School Library Journal

"Rosario lives next door.

He’s a magician.

He doesn't pull rabbits out of hats or find pennies behind your ears. He’s a garden magician."

— from the book

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Product Details

Age Range: 4 - 7 years
Grade Level: Preschool - 2
Lexile Measure: 480 (What's this?)

Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Groundwood Books (March 17, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 155498341X
ISBN-13: 978-1554983414
Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 0.6 x 10 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,183,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #424 in Books > Children's Books > Early Learning > Basic Concepts > Seasons
- #757 in Books > Children's Books > Geography & Cultures > Where We Live > City Life
- #1235 in Books > Children's Books > Education & Reference > Science Studies > Nature > Environment

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars

5 star		67%
4 star		33%
3 star		0%
2 star		0%
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Top Customer Reviews

" This was a good moment.

By fredric leigh on July 17, 2015

Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase

This book was for my almost seven year old granddaughter. I have been teaching her gardening for nearly 3 years. She has a deck garden at her home _ tomatoes, herbs and Bell Peppers. We took the book on a recent vacation. When she asked me to read the story to her she pointed to the picture and said, " Rosario is you Paypa (that's what she calls me) and I am the little person. Right?" This was a good moment.

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Great for little gardeners

By Dione Basseri on November 24, 2015

Format: Hardcover

As a gardener, I might be giving this review a bit higher of a review than most people. But if YOU'RE a gardener, perhaps it evens out.

A young girl tells us about her neighbor, Rosario, who seems to be a gardening magician. He even manages to grow figs in the wrong climate, but when winter comes, he buries the tree and the girl mourns its death. But Rosario just smiles.

The artwork is very simplistic, with the humans sporting enormous heads and smaller bodies. Despite things being very plain, great effort was put into establishing perspective. Rows of houses are rendered, rather than the artist filling things in with vague colors, and you actually feel like you might know the size of the gardens and houses.

I recommend borrowing this from your local library before purchase, just in case you and your little one aren't as into it as I am. But certainly give it a try!

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Great story the children loved

By M Taylor on October 4, 2015

Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase

Both my 3 and 5 year old granddaughters just loved this story. We only buy books where we have worn out our library borrowing and they are still asking for more. This book definitely fit the bill.

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