Grow a Salad

Dave Jenkinson is a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba and the author of the “Portraits” section of Emergency Librarian.

What sets this pair of books apart from other gardening books for
children is that each includes a “plantable” page, an insert
containing some 100 seeds that were encased in paper pulp as the paper
was being produced. The “salad” book provides seeds representing
seven different types of lettuce, while the “butterfly” book’s
seeds will lead to growing 16 different butterfly-attracting flowering
plants, nine of them perennials.

The author, Liz Primeau, is a recognized gardening expert. Of the
books’ 11 sections, those dealing with planting, thinning and
transplanting, and garden care are common to both book. Grow a Salad
also offers a brief history of lettuce, directions for identifying
lettuce types, instructions on harvesting, a listing of “bugs we
like/don’t like,” and the recipes for three salad dressings. Grow a
Butterfly Garden provides information about flowering plants as well as
additional information about butterflies, including the stages of their
life cycle and how to differentiate between butterflies and moths.
Although the lettuces can be grown at any time of year, both indoors and
out, creating a successful butterfly garden means growing the plants so
that their flowering will coincide with the availability of butterflies.
Joe Weissmann’s pen-and-ink illustrations scattered throughout the
books are more decorative than functional.

The consumable aspect of a portion of these two volumes would suggest
private purchase rather than library acquisition. Given the books’
relatively high price and short length, those seeking a children’s
gardening book would find better value in The Kids Can Press Jumbo Book
of Gardening (2000). Recommended with reservations.