Inspiring Garden Stories :: Book Sharing Monday

We have been reading several spring and garden themed books lately, even if spring hasn't truly arrived in Prince Edward Island. We are sharing with you three favourite inspiring garden stories. This post is a bit long, but the most inspiring story is the last one I share, so I hope you will stay to the end! 

Celeste chose to share with you "The Gardener" written by Sarah Stewart with pictures by David Small. We had read this story before, but enjoyed it again. The illustrations are a perfect match to the story. The story is told through letters written by Lydia Grace. During the 1930s Depression, Lydia Grace goes to the big city to live with her uncle while her parents try to find work. She brings a suitcase filled with seeds with her and sets to transform a little bit of the city. 

"I truly believe that cake equals one thousand smiles" 

Two other books we enjoyed so much we had to share them with you:

"And Then It's Spring" written by Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Erin E. Stead. We are hoping for spring to arrive soon here and this book was perfect! A young boy and his dog decide to plant a garden. The story is all about waiting and we all loved it. 

My favourite quote from this story is : 

"and the brown, 

still brown, 

has a greenish hum

that you can only hear 

if you put your ear to the ground 

and close your eyes" 

The most inspiring story we read is based on a true story. "The Good Garden: How One Family Went from Hunger to Having Enough" is about food insecurity. It shows us how one family in the hills of Honduras learned how to grow food better and become more independent of their landlords. This book is a very good introduction to this global issue. 

The Good Garden is written by Katie Smith Milway and illustrated by Sylvie Daigneault. There is a website with more information, quizzes, and games with lovely background music too! 

The book is part of a collection by Kids Can Press called CitizenKid that inspire and teach children about the world. Kids Can Press also has learning materials for this story, free to download (check on the left side under extras). We have read "If the World Were a Village" and I recommend it too. 

The story follows Maria Luz and her family. She learns a new method of gardening from her new teacher and starts a new plot on her family's land. 

"Over the next few days, more and more families come by to watch and learn. Some ask Don Pedro how to make terraces. Others ask Maria Luz how to make compost. Still others admire the marigolds, which Don Pedro calls the smiles of the soil. Everyone is wondering the same thing - could these new ideas help their garden, too?" 

The story shares a lot of the issues faced by Maria Luz and her family, including their dealings with the "coyote" which is their landlord. The back of the book has information about food insecurity, what we can do to help, and the inspiration for the story. 

If you would like to join in Book Sharing Monday, join in at anytime by sharing books on your blog and let me know by leaving a comment! Thank you and happy reading!