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My Garden (by Kevin Henkes)

common sense media says

The perfect spring read for fertile imaginations.

parents & educators say
See all 3 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this gentle book may encourage kids to start digging in the dirt.

Educational value: Kids learn a bit about gardening -- weeding, watering, blooming and dying flowers.
Positive messages: There’s ample room for both work and play in this fantasy. As she helps tend the garden, the young girl finds great pleasure in daydreaming about her wished-for garden.
Positive role models: The young girl dutifully helps her mom, even though you get the sense that she wishes there weren’t quite so much work to be done.
Violence & scariness: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on My Garden

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about what they’d like to plant in a magic garden of their own. What would you grow? How would you plant it? How would you take care of it?
  • Families can explore the very real magic of growing something from seed. Plant a bean, a sunflower, or even a carrot. Talk about what you think will happen, and how long it might take. What do you need to do to help your plant grow?

What's the story?

What's the story?
A young girl helps her mother tend the garden, but then confides what kind of garden she’d rather have -- one filled with forever-blooming flowers, chocolate rabbits instead of the real ones, umbrella plants, and strawberries that glow like lanterns. Back to reality at the end, she takes a chance and plants a seashell. Who knows what might happen?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Kevin Henkes celebrates the possibilities that gardening promises by letting a young girl’s imagination run wild. He revels in spring with an Easter-candy palette that hearkens not just to the chocolate rabbits and jelly bean bush but the abundance of flowers, birds, and butterflies that fill the girl’s daydreams. Her whimsical garden of what-ifs will bring a smile to parents and children. Funny, wistful, and sweet, it’s a perfect springtime read.

Watercolors teem with life.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Kevin Henkes
Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication date: February 23, 2010
Number of pages: 40
Hardcover price: $17.99
Read Aloud: 2
Read Alone: 6
This review was written by Darienne Hosley Stewart
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

Rebalyn
parent of 3 and 5 year old
3
 
Just got this book
Super cute book! Love the illustrations. Totally opens up the imagination.
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was this review useful?
helped me decide (4) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (6)
JennyS
parent of 3 and 7 year old
2
 
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (2) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (3)
awsomewebkinzgirl
kid, 12 years old
14
 
not a good thing for kids
this cake is for adults only!
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was this review useful?
helped me decide (2) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (4)

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About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age
Our child development rating guidelines