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Summary: A Passion for Flowers
Review: "April showers bring May flowers." Sarah Stewart's The Gardener brings us the winsome story of a young flower lover, Lydia Grace Finch. Forced by the hard times of the Depression, Lydia leaves her family to go to the unfamiliar city to stay with her Uncle Jim, an unsmiling baker. While traveling by train, Lydia writes to Uncle Jim, admitting she knows nothing about baking, but a lot about gardening. In Lydia's subsequent letters to her Mama, Papa, and Grandma we discover just what Lydia thinks of the city, subdued Uncle Jim, and learning to bake bread. David Small's pen and ink drawings with their softly hued watercolor washes fill the large pages with detailed views of Lydia's adventure. Where in the big gray city can Lydia ever grow all the seeds and bulbs her Grandma sends her? Will Lydia ever coax a smile from Uncle Jim? Read Lydia's charming letters to find out how one determined slip of a girl brightens her city corner of the grim 1930's world.
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Summary: the gardener
Review: a fellow nurserywoman introduced this wonderful book to our garden club at a meeting,and we were very moved by the touching storyline. after hearing this story there weren't many dry eyes in the room.there were so many favorable comments after, i deceided to buy this book for our club library. i can't wait to surprize our group with this book at our christmas meeting as a present to the club. i know everyone will love it! club librarian
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Summary: How did they pack all of that into such a little book?
Review: After reading this book I felt that I had read a novel. What wonderful characters, what a rich story. The story is satisfying in itself, but add the illustrations and you have a book about real people. I would love to read a novel or see a movie based on this story. Just the few pages of a picture book isn't enough. Loved this book!
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Summary: Blooms as the story grows.
Review: Although set in Depression-era America, there is nothing discouraging about this delightful picture book.Lydia Grace's attempt to make Uncle Jim smile should have every reader beaming. David Small's artistic "green thumb" captures the joy of Sarah Stewart's series of letters from "the gardner".
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Summary: Retired? Never!!
Review: As a first year teacher, I am constantly looking for new literature to share with my children. The Reading Specialist at my school shared this book with me as part of our preparations for a retirement luncheon for our principal. Our principal, also an avid gardener, truly brought light and love to those she contacted in her 30+ years with our school district. I cried with the Reading Teacher when she showed me this book, and then eagerly ran out and bought the book for myself. When I shared it with my children later that week, they were all moved by Lydia Grace's courage and love as much as I was. This book reached my class and I on many different levels. The students, being a little younger than Lydia, learned about a time long gone, and what children in the past had to do for their families. We talked about sacrifices that had to be made, and making the best of what seems at first to be a bad situation. I am so glad I was able to share this book with so many different types of people. This book has touched many lives.
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Summary: Charming and touching.
Review: As young Lydia is sent to live with relatives during this depression-era setting, she writes notes home. She tells of her new life helping her sullen Uncle Jim in his bakery and of her joy in making things grow from the seeds she brings with her from back home. Each colorful double-page illustration reveals intricate details of Lydia's life in the city, and her letters are the only text. Page by page, letter by letter, a quiet theme is revealed until we see the lovely rooftop garden that Lydia surprises Uncle Jim with that finally produces the smile she has been seeking. In the end we see that correspondance, gardening, and family relationships grow and flourish when given careful attention. Pair this lovely book with _Dear Mr. Blueberry_ or _The Jolly Postman_ to study the form of writing through letters. This book is especially perfect for sharing in the spring, and it will be enjoyed again and again no matter the season.
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Summary: Enchanting
Review: Besides emphasizing the importance of a good attitude, this book is a vivid picture of the time and place. Bravo to the writer and the illustrator and to Lydia, who makes a family and a garden wherever she goes.
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Summary: Realistic, yet heart-warming look at the Great Depression
Review: By using the device of writing letters home Sarah Stewart tells just enough of Lydia Grace's story to keep the reader interested, while David Small's wonderful watercolors fill in many of the details of life in the 1930s. Students at our school were all clamoring for the book after story hour.
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Summary: This is a wonderful book!
Review: I absolutely love this book! My 5 year old son and I planted a garden this year and I wanted to find a book that helped to reinforce the concept of gardening as not only fun but as a way of bringing beauty and joy into people's lives. I found it with this book. In fact, I read it several times by myself before even reading it to my son and, even after numerous readings, the ending never fails to bring tears to my eyes. I've also been sharing this story with my adult friends and it has touched each one.
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Summary: Tear-jerker, a bit old for most kids though
Review: I read this through three times before handing it over begrudgingly to my niece and her cousin. She's 4 and the cousin is 5. Most of it went right over her head, but the 5-year old seemed to pick up on the plot a little. It really grows with re-reads, so if your child really likes to hear the same story over and over again, there's enough detail and complexity to not bore you to death. A cute idea of regenerating a inner city building in disrepair, and coming out of the depression with hope and love. I think it reads well on both levels - there's a surface story that kids can get into and more interesting elements for adults.
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