Reviews
Kirkus Discoveries
Our Generous GardenBy Anne Nagro
July 21, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-9793739-4-7
An inspirational children's book that chronicles the growth of an elementary school's garden from
seed to harvest.
Nagro's loving tribute to an elementary school's agricultural adventure cheerily promotes the garden programs that have become an educational phenomenon in recent years. The book is written from the perspective of a child giving a tour of the school's precious garden, its pages minimally formatted with photographs of children enthusiastically attending to their crops. Along the way, an illustrated ladybug appears in the borders of most pages and provides informative caption...The book is most relevant for primary educators beginning a gardening project and seeking a teaching framework that will excite and interest younger children. Also included are a recipe list and instructions for sketching a "garden plot" on graph paper that will encourage students to create their own imaginary landscapes. Nagro provides a website for additional information, activities and online discussions, which posits the book as only one prong in the author's multimedia pitchfork approach to promoting school gardens. The message is genuine and will inspire children to enjoy the fruits and vegetables of their labor.
A terrific resource for elementary-level educators wanting a classroom full of raised hands and green thumbs.
Reviewed December 2008
Kirkus Discoveries
In My Shoes: humor, beauty, spiritBy Amy Fox
These amazing questions, photographs and pieces of artwork invite parents and children to share some special time together while exploring and discussing the everyday sights, sounds, textures, activities and objects that make up our lives.
Fox, Mezebish, and Sklansky have created a journal of sorts that parents and children can complete together: “Keep the gift of the present by writing your child's responses in this book.” A large full-color photo or illustration is prominently placed on every page, while underneath are thought-provoking questions. These are cleverly designed questions that allow children to explore their multiple intelligences: auditory, visual, mathematical, kinesthetic, interpersonal. One photo shows a young girl peering around a corner in her house. The text encourages children to think about what she may see, who she might be looking for, and asks readers whom they like to play hide-and-seek with. A watercolor painting of a bubbly claw-footed tub launches a discussion of bubbles: “What happens when you clap your hands with bubbles?” “Can you hide in the bubbles?” “What do they feel like?” “What do they smell like?” Some of the questions will concretely show parents a child's stage of development: Can rocks blow away? What are clouds made of? Does the road in the picture really get smaller? Others will suggest new ways of looking at the interacting with the world-make your shadow look like a tree, find out for sure just what a spider web feels like and experiment with bare feet in the sand to see what kinds of marks can be made. While the photos and artwork are not culturally diverse(all the children are Caucasian), the situations will resonate with children from all backgrounds.
Sure to encourage parent-child interaction and sharing, this is the perfect gift for families with children of all ages. (Nonfiction. 4+)
