I recently wrote an article about gardening with children and I couldn’t help myself, I had to add in a bit about reading and books. The two activities truly go hand-in-hand!
The community garden I have a membership with has worked for many years in conjunction with the nearby library branch (that I just so happen to be employed at) to hold story time programs in the summer months. One of the library assistants takes a bunch of books out to the garden on a mid-week morning and children from all over the community and beyond gather with their parents and other family members to listen. Needless to say, it is a very well-received program!
Alberta-based writer/speaker/blogger April Demes published a fantastic post last spring about her favourite gardening books for children – you can check it out here. I have a few other titles to add:
April Pulley Sayre – Rah, Rah, Radishes! (I previously mentioned it here).
and Go, Go, Grapes!
Fresh veggies and fruit have never been so much fun. I love the illustrations, too – they’re bold and bright and eye-catching.
Stefan Page – We’re Going to the Farmers’ Market
This board book for the very young is the perfect introduction to an outing at the market and all the delicious produce you can find there.
Kadir Nelson – If You Plant a Seed
There aren’t many words in this book, but they’re chosen with a powerful message in mind. This is less a book about gardening than it is about consideration and kindness. Nelson’s paintings are absolutely incredible – a real must-see.
Julie Fogliano – And Then It’s Spring
Sweet, soft, and inviting. Like spring should be, but often isn’t. 😉
Elly Mackay – If You Hold a Seed
A beautiful story about a boy and a tree as they grow up together. Dream big!
Watch Mackay’s fascinating process for creating her papercut illustrations here.
Kevin Sheehan – The Dandelion’s Tale
One of my favourite children’s picture books in recent years. (I previously mentioned it on my other blog The Door is Ajar -click here).
What are your favourite gardening or garden-related books for children?
Flowery Prose 
Wonderful books especially the last one.
I so adore “The Dandelion’s Tale” – it always makes me tear up just a little. So sweet.
Not exactly gardening, but ‘Operation Hedgehog’ by Margaret Lane – this explains why: http://derrickjknight.com/2012/11/13/nobby-bates/
You’ve completely piqued my interest – I hope I can find this book in our library!
It looks like I might be able to order it. Will do that this week! I want to know how this story goes….
I do hope so
Thanks so much for this interesting list. With a few small children in the family I shall refer to it many times.
I’m happy it may be useful – it’s always great to read to the little ones. 🙂
I don’t pay much attention to children’s books so I am pleased to see so many that are focused on nature and gardening!
I think there are more and more on those topics being published all the time – recently, I came across a couple of picture books about composting, and another one about growing school gardens. It’s fantastic!
Wonderful post! Unfortunately, it’s been so long since I’ve read children’s picture books that I don’t have any favorite gardening books.
It’s so fun to share a few of the great ones being published!
There are so many lovely books for children these days. When I was little I had a poetry book with rhymes connected with gardening and flowers and vegetables, but I have never been able to remember enough to track it down!
It sounds like a really wonderful book, maybe you’ll come across it sometime when you’re least expecting to…. 🙂
I love children’s books. I miss reading to my “boys” who are now 15 and 18. My favorite children’s gardening book is The Gardener by Sarah Stewart. It’s set in New York during the depression. I’ve read it dozens of times (and cried the first time). It’s warm and touching. Do you know the book?
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I checked, and we have it in our library system. It sounds like a wonderful story; I’m going to borrow it this week. Thanks so much for sharing! (I love this aspect of blogging – we can obtain all these great ideas and referrals from other people).
Oh Sheryl, I’m excited to hear that your library has a copy of the book. It won a Coldecott Award as well, and you’ll see why. Please let me know what you think.
I’ve learned an amazing and eclectic number of things since blogging. You are so right.
I finally received a copy of The Gardener from my library branch, and read it right away – what a beautiful story! So sweet and gentle, and yes, very touching. The illustrations are so detailed, as well. A really, really lovely book – thanks again for letting me know about it!
Sheryl, I’m so glad you liked the book. I take it off the shelf and read it from time to time. I think I may have even blogged about it once…or maybe I just thought about it. I do that too. 😉
Great post Sheryl! I love children’s books and miss reading them to my daughters. My younger daughter’s favourite gardening book was ‘Planting a Rainbow’ by Lois Ehlert. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzBz4Ws5zAk
Oh yes – that’s a fantastic one! And I love the illustrations in it – they’re so colourful and bright.
We liked the illustrations too, because they really look like the flowers they are meant to be.
These all look great. The best children’s gardening book that I read to my kids when they were little was called “Two Little Gardeners” by Margaret Brown and Edith Hurd.
I love Margaret Brown’s work but I don’t know that particular book – I’m going to look it up for sure!
A lovely book I stumbled upon in our school library is The Curious Garden by Peter Brown. It’s loosely based on New York’s High Line and reminds me of how exuberant some kids are when they first set out to garden. Thanks for this post!
I came across a copy of The Curious Garden at work a few days ago, but it was a hold for a customer and so I couldn’t borrow it. I am going to order one for myself so I can read it. It sounds like a good one!
Very interesting post.
Thanks so much!
Fantastic. I’m huge on kids learning and participating in gardening so books like these make me so giddy:) thanks for sharing
I’m so glad you enjoyed! If you come across any more titles you’d like to add, please feel free to put them in the comments. I’m always on the look out for more! 🙂