We Are the Gardeners, written by Joanna Gains of HGTV’s Fixer Upper fame, is a story about a family starting their backyard garden. Written for children 4-8 years old in grades 1-2, the book combines basic gardening information with a charming story line that shows how hard work, learning from failures, and perseverance can overcome daunting obstacles. The story points out that although gardening is hard work the rewards are great when a family works together to accomplish their common goal.
The narrative begins when the death of a window sill fern and the death prompts the family to investigate the cause and begin again with their newfound knowledge. This leads to new house plants that thrive and an adventure into outdoor gardening. A family gathering produces a plan and the family sets to work preparing the soil, planting seeds of vegetables and flowers, and tending the garden. The children meet the good, bad, and ugly critters in the garden and are tempted to give up when goats, rabbits, and chicken eat half the garden for lunch one day. They learn from this catastrophe, install a fence and in a short time are enjoying a home cooked meal sourced from their very own garden.
Written in the first person plural, “we”, as though written by the children, the story emerges on a personal level that sets the tone for the whole book. The sentences are simple but contain valuable information and convey the feelings of the children as they work toward their goal. The beautiful pastel watercolor illustrations add to the optimist spirit of the text and enhance the success of the Gaines family as they enjoy the fruits of their labor and recognize that there are many lessons to be learned.
To buy We Are the Gardeners from Amazon, click here.