The Garden Book

Susan Brown is a B.C. horticulturist, permaculture designer, and early
childhood education instructor.

The Garden Book, a small book for children 10 and under, comes with its
own little plastic greenhouse, two peat pellets as a growing medium, and
a packet of radish seeds. It’s an attractive little set that appealed
immediately to the child I gave it to. The booklet treats a variety of
gardening topics briefly, frequently referring to activities that may be
carried out in the little greenhouse. The full-color illustrations
accurately depict the vegetables and flowers mentioned. They show happy
children using the greenhouse as suggested. Instructions are given for
expanding gardening beyond the greenhouse to window boxes, house plants,
and an outdoor garden. The page layouts make frequent use of boxes and
boldface subdivisions. These aids, combined with the attractive color,
result in very accessible information.

My 10-year-old reviewing assistant, an experienced gardener, read the
book in one evening. He says, “It’s easy to read. It teaches you
quite a lot. It even teaches you about bugs. It teaches you about a
whole bunch of plants. It tells you about bulbs and stuff.” He’s
waiting for his radishes to mature and has decided to plant peanuts,
motivated by The Garden Book set.

I learned a thing or two also. I appreciate the information on rooting
cuttings, pollination, and flower parts. That’s quite a lot for a
little box!