In Our Garden

Illustrated by Melissa Crowton
Ebook (EPUB FXL CPB)
On sale Mar 15, 2022 | 32 Pages | 9781984812117
Age 3-7 years | Preschool - 2
Reading Level: Lexile AD410L | Fountas & Pinnell M
From the New York Times bestselling author of Be Kind comes an uplifting classroom tale about students who create a vegetable garden on their school's rooftop.

Millie has recently moved to a new city, from a place more than an ocean away. More than anything she misses the garden where her family used to grow food. Then one day she has an idea—the school has a fine flat roof, perfect for a garden. Soon her teacher and classmates are on board, but it takes more than ideas to build a garden. It takes supplies and hard work; it takes a lot of learning; and it takes a whole school—a whole community—coming together to help. And of course, it also takes a lot of waiting. But as Millie's teacher Miss Mirales says, “Be patient. Good things take time.”

From building the beds and planting the seeds to the first glorious harvest, here's the story of a garden—and a girl—in bloom, and what it takes for a new place to finally feel like home.
Praise for In Our Garden:

An NSTA-CBC Best STEM Book of the Year

"Uplifting and engaging . . . Beautifully written, delightfully illustrated, and perfect for aspiring young gardeners . . . or community activists." —The Boston Globe

"The act of gardening is as much the focus here as the community that builds around it . . . An excellent way to welcome spring." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Values of speaking up, persistence, and patience are all embraced in a quiet tale of settling into a new community." —Publishers Weekly

"A simple, beautifully written story about vision, hard work, and patience . . . Lovely for both reading aloud or sharing one-on-one." —School Library Connection

"[An] uplifting story about finding belonging and purpose somewhere new." —The Horn Book

"Lively mixed-media artwork supports the text effectively with varied scenes of students involved with each other and the project of creating their garden, while Millie glows with happiness as her idea becomes a satisfying reality." —Booklist

"Reminiscent of Christian Robinson’s art, Crowton’s extraordinary illustrations are appropriate for a child audience . . . Miller’s lyrical prose is breezy and engaging . . . A nourishing delight." —Kirkus Reviews
© Courtesy of the author
PAT ZIETLOW MILLER is a children's book lover and the creative force behind the blog Read, Write, Repeat, where she reviews books for young readers. Sophie's Squash, her first picture book, is based on a true story—her own daughter, Sonia, once loved a squash. Her second picture book, Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story, will also be published by Schwartz & Wade Books. View titles by Pat Zietlow Miller
MELISSA CROWTON is the illustrator of the upcoming Mousie, I Will Read to You, as well as the Baby Code! series of board books. She has created doodles for Google's homepage, and works on illustration projects for publishers and other clients. Her work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators, Creative Quarterly and American Illustration. Originally from Utah, Melissa currently lives in Northern California. View titles by Melissa Crowton

About

From the New York Times bestselling author of Be Kind comes an uplifting classroom tale about students who create a vegetable garden on their school's rooftop.

Millie has recently moved to a new city, from a place more than an ocean away. More than anything she misses the garden where her family used to grow food. Then one day she has an idea—the school has a fine flat roof, perfect for a garden. Soon her teacher and classmates are on board, but it takes more than ideas to build a garden. It takes supplies and hard work; it takes a lot of learning; and it takes a whole school—a whole community—coming together to help. And of course, it also takes a lot of waiting. But as Millie's teacher Miss Mirales says, “Be patient. Good things take time.”

From building the beds and planting the seeds to the first glorious harvest, here's the story of a garden—and a girl—in bloom, and what it takes for a new place to finally feel like home.

Reviews

Praise for In Our Garden:

An NSTA-CBC Best STEM Book of the Year

"Uplifting and engaging . . . Beautifully written, delightfully illustrated, and perfect for aspiring young gardeners . . . or community activists." —The Boston Globe

"The act of gardening is as much the focus here as the community that builds around it . . . An excellent way to welcome spring." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Values of speaking up, persistence, and patience are all embraced in a quiet tale of settling into a new community." —Publishers Weekly

"A simple, beautifully written story about vision, hard work, and patience . . . Lovely for both reading aloud or sharing one-on-one." —School Library Connection

"[An] uplifting story about finding belonging and purpose somewhere new." —The Horn Book

"Lively mixed-media artwork supports the text effectively with varied scenes of students involved with each other and the project of creating their garden, while Millie glows with happiness as her idea becomes a satisfying reality." —Booklist

"Reminiscent of Christian Robinson’s art, Crowton’s extraordinary illustrations are appropriate for a child audience . . . Miller’s lyrical prose is breezy and engaging . . . A nourishing delight." —Kirkus Reviews

Author

© Courtesy of the author
PAT ZIETLOW MILLER is a children's book lover and the creative force behind the blog Read, Write, Repeat, where she reviews books for young readers. Sophie's Squash, her first picture book, is based on a true story—her own daughter, Sonia, once loved a squash. Her second picture book, Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story, will also be published by Schwartz & Wade Books. View titles by Pat Zietlow Miller
MELISSA CROWTON is the illustrator of the upcoming Mousie, I Will Read to You, as well as the Baby Code! series of board books. She has created doodles for Google's homepage, and works on illustration projects for publishers and other clients. Her work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators, Creative Quarterly and American Illustration. Originally from Utah, Melissa currently lives in Northern California. View titles by Melissa Crowton