I would like to introduce you to this new children’s book which you will find inside our Christmas Gift Guide 24: Miguel’s Community Garden written by JaNay Brown-Wood Illustrated by Samara Hardy. I received a copy of Miguel’s Garden in exchange for this review.
I don’t know about you but I’m so excited that Winter is around the corner but that can put a stop to our outside Gardening. I can begin Gardening with Charlie inside our Home and set up a Counter Garden in the living room and Herb Garden in the kitchen.
Not only that when we take breaks Charlie and I have this fun new book about #gardening for Charlie and I to read. Miguel’s Community Garden. may even give us ideas on ways to create our own Community Garden with our neighbors. Even though we live in a Town Home at the back of the property is enough room for a #garden.
Charlie and I liked finding out Miguel is looking for Sunflowers. let David know I wanted to find Sunflowers the other day to plant inside the Wheelbarrow I plan on taking to my Mother n Laws. Although I could put it out on my front porch if Charlie and David would agree to it. I wish Miguel were here to help Charlie and I plant our flowers, we could share Sunflowers with him.
Charlie and I enjoyed going through the story looking for the Sunflowers and finding different Vegetables we could plan in our Garden. My family enjoyed seeing the Picnic and being asked a question which kept Charlie engaged in the story while allowing me to explain what certain foods were to Charlie.
I liked how they included a recipe in the book which Charlie can prepare for dinner one night this weel. We can invite my Niece Lily and my Nephew Jason over for Storytime and snacks. Would you like to join us and help us prepare the Salad?
Charlie let me know we should ask everyone to bring an ingredient or two for the Salad. Then we can combine the Salad when we all get together. Just remember if you have children helping prepare the Salad like the book says have adults on hand to help with the cutting. We wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt.
About:
Miguel searches for Sunflowers to take to his community garden party in this vibrant, diverse exploration of gardening and healthy eating. From the Where in the Garden? series.
Miguel is throwing a party at his community garden for all of his friends, and he needs help searching for Sunflowers to complete the celebration. What do we know about Sunflowers? They’re tall with petals and leaves―and, hold on, is that a Sunflower? No, that’s an Artichoke. Where, oh, where could those Sunflowers be? Can you help Miguel find them in time for his party?
The second title in JaNay Brown-Wood and Samara Hardy’s Where in the Garden? series stars an adorable young Latino exploring his garden while comparing, contrasting, and hunting for Sunflowers among a multitude of warm-weather fruits and vegetables like Apricots, Artichokes, Asparagus, Mushrooms, Spinach, and more.
Toddlers and preschoolers will delight as they discover the wonders of fresh produce, and after Miguel finally finds the patch of tall, yellow blossoms, a festive celebration ensues at the community garden where a diverse group of friends and Miguel’s two fathers feast on all of the fresh fruits and vegetables.
Back matter includes a delicious recipe.
The Where in the Garden? series features a delightfully diverse cast of toddlers, each exploring simple fruit/vegetable identification. With a reliable, easy-to-follow narrative structure, visual clues are introduced, explored, and reviewed alongside jubilantly illustrated interiors. Perfect for early childhood and elementary education units on agriculture, farming, gardening, and healthy eating.
Also available from JaNay Brown-Wood and Samara Hardy:
Amara’s Farm
About JaNay Brown-Wood
Some say JaNay Brown-Wood came right out the womb filled with stories to tell and the unlimited energy and excitement to tell them. She grew up in Fresno, California where she quickly realized her love for writing and for educating children. Her interests led her to UCLA where she graduated with her BA in Psychology and Applied Developmental Psychology, on to CSU Sacramento where she earned her MA in Child Development, and finally on to UC Davis where she completed her PhD in Education.
Through the years, JaNay has been a performer, preschool teacher, camp counselor, poet, silly-song singer, youth specialist, designer of curriculum, Harry Potter lover, college professor, reader, jellybean eater, and someone who truly cares about our future generations. Currently, she teaches and conducts research at California State University, Sacramento and lives in Sacramento with her fantastic husband Catrayel, who is also her high school sweetheart, and their lovely daughter Vivian.
Her first picture book Imani’s Moon won the NAESP Children’s Book of the Year Award, is a Northern CA Association of Children’s Librarians 2014 Distinguished Book, a recommended pick on the “NYC Reads 365” 1st grade reading list, and a 2015 Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) Multicultural Book. Her second book Grandma’s Tiny House: A Counting Story received a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly, is a Bank Street Books Best book of 2018, and won the CELI Read Aloud Book Award through the University of Mississippi. She has published poems in Highlights for Kids and Highlights High Five and has a poem included poetry anthology titled Thanku: Poems of Gratitude (Lerner/Millbrook, forthcoming Fall 2019).
To learn more about JaNay:
Visit her website or janayebrownwood.com
Follow her on twitter: @janaybrownwood
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
