My First Garden Book

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-- A book that attempts to do too much. After an exclamation-point-filled introduction, Celfe offers 16 rhyming story-verses, followed by a craft and a gardening project for each. The verses are superimposed on full-color, double-page photographs; the projects are accompanied by small, pen-and-ink and watercolor drawings; and the cluttered cover illustration bears no resemblance to anything inside. The elements of the book are uneven in quality: the closeup photos of garden flowers and fruits are beautiful; the verses are awful. Six pages of general directions, illustrated with small photographs, contain good, clear information on preparing the soil, planting seeds, and caring for a garden. ``Gypsy Jewels,'' how to make daisy chains, is something many children can do; other projects are pointless or too difficult. Some are unrealistical and oversimplified. ``Plant a Garden Castle'' entails building a two-layered, three-foot square flower bed and planting seeds of pansies, alyssum, and candytuft that in two months are supposed to make a multicolored design of blossoms. All things considered, the book contains more problems then inspirations. Marc Brown's Your First Garden Book (Little, 1981) contains activities, related crafts, and droll drawings; it promotes the fun of gardening while being clear and realistic about what a beginner can do. --Carolyn Jenks, formerly at Oyster River Elementary School, Durham, NH