“The Garden” in Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel
Toad uses unconventional and humorous efforts to encourage the seeds in his garden to grow. This is an “I Can Read Book” and a Newbery Honor award winner.
The Gardener by Sarah Stewart
Lydia Grace leaves her beloved grandmother and parents to live in the city with her uncle during the Great Depression. Through letters, she tells her rural family about helping in her uncle’s bakery and the surprise she is planning for him—a rooftop garden. This sweet story inspires readers to use their talents and creativity to bring joy and beauty in challenging situations. It is a Caldecott Honor Book.
Growing Vegetable Soup and Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
A father and child start a garden with the goal of making vegetable soup. The story illustrates seeds, sprouts, garden tools, and the gardening process in Ms. Ehlert’s vibrant, colorful collages. Planting a Rainbow is similar to Growing Vegetable Soup. A child and mother plant a flower garden, which the narrator calls a “rainbow.”
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Clooney
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney. Alice’s grandfather lovingly challenges her to do something to make the world more beautiful, but Alice doesn’t know how to achieve this. The book follows her from childhood through adulthood until one day, she unexpectedly discovers the way to accomplish her grandfather’s charge.
The Gardener of Alcatraz: A True Story by Emma Bland Smith
A prisoner of the infamous Alcatraz penitentiary is assigned the job of tending the grounds’ gardens. Gardening becomes his passion, giving him purpose and altering the trajectory of his life.