Jo MacDonald Had a Garden, by Mary Quattlebaum,
illustrated by Laura J. Bryant Ready, Set, Grow!: A Kid’s Guide to Gardening, by
Rebecca Spohn
Drawing on the tune “Old MacDonald,” Jo MacDonald
Had a Garden brings readers into the garden where Jo,
Old MacDonald’s granddaughter, and her cousin Mike
go from planting to reaping. Kids have fun looking for
the new plant or animal added to each spread. The back
of the book includes information on all the plants and
animals added, along with activities, tips, and resources
for young gardeners. Whether you want to garden inside or out, there’s
something for you in this book. It also includes recipes
using food you’ve grown and garden craft projects.
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, by Kate Messner
This beautifully illustrated book shows what’s
happening, the shoots and leaves and other plant parts
kids will see, but it also shows what might be less visible,
the worms and roots and bugs down in the dirt.
GARDENING How
To
Gardening Lab for Kids, by Renata Brown
The subtitle of this book says it all: 52 Experiments
to Learn, Grow, Harvest, Make, Play and Enjoy Your
Garden. If you are looking to maximize production in a
garden, this isn’t the book, but if you want to maximize
fun, check this one out.
Grow: A Family Guide to Growing Fruits and Vegetables
Together, by Ben Raskin
This basic introduction gets you thinking about what
plants need, the tools you need to get started, and some
info on the top fruits and vegetables. There’s also a
chapter on planning your garden.
Roots, Shoots, Buckets, and Boots by Sharon Lovejoy
Sharon Lovejoy loves introducing children to gardens.
In this and other books, she has lots of ideas for making
gardening fun. Imagine a garden that tells time by
when the flowers bloom or lettuce spelling out your
child’s name or a cucumber inside a bottle. She’ll show
you how to do that and grow a sunflower house or a
bean and flower teepee and so much more.
Square Foot Gardening with Kids, by Mel Bartholomew
Square foot gardening is a specific method of compact
planting in a tight space, and Bartholomew, who
popularized the idea decades ago, explains how to get
started and succeed. This book is designed for adults
who want to garden with kids and has specific ideas on
gardening with kids at different ages and stages from
toddlers to teens.
What will you and your family grow together?
Sara Barry is a writer who planted her first garden
when she was five and hasn’t stopped. Her kids help
with everything from planning and planting to picking
and eating (though nobody loves weeding).
SPRING
OPEN HOUSES
Meet with:
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Admissions
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DaytonaState.edu/OH
$500 Scholarship Drawing
See website for details
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