In the Garden

by Elizabeth Spurr, Manelle Oliphant (Illustrator)

Overview

Simple and evocative language and charming illustrations describe a boy's experience in the garden.
In this gently rhyming board book, a young boy creates a garden, one small action at a time. First he digs in the dirt and plants seeds, then he adds soil, water, and some patience. With time, the seeds grow and the boy excitedly discovers what he has helped to make.
Elizabeth Spurr and Manelle Oliphant together create a perfect sit-in-your-lap reading experience for toddlers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781561455812
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	05/01/2012
Pages:	22
Sales rank:	427,592
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 6.50(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	1 - 3 Years

About the Author

Elizabeth Spurr began publishing a neighborhood newspaper at age ten and received a degree in journalism from the University of Southern California. She was a newspaper editor before she began writing children's books. She died in 2020.

Manelle Oliphant received a degree in illustration from Brigham Young University-Idaho and has created artwork for picture books, chapter books, theater posters, magazine articles, and games. She lives in Utah.

Editorial Reviews

Delicately illustrated spreads and a simple rhyme composed of nouns and two-word phrases show a boy planting seeds and waiting for them to grow in this first book in a seasonally themed board book series. The boy, with eyes the color of leaves and hair that matches the soil, “Hoes rows./ Pulls weeds./ Digs holes./ Drops seeds./ Covers/ Wets/ Waits/ Forgets.” Oliphant’s illustrations express the passage of time through changes in light, weaving subtle geometric textures into the sky, while Spurr’s careful descriptions capture the slow but gratifying process of planting and harvesting. Ages 1–3. Agent: Natalie Fischer Lakosil, Bradford Literary. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"With many close-ups and a realistic feel, this has potential to both introduce an understanding of how things grow and be a useful easy reader."—Booklist

"Subtle, understated spreads complement the powerfully quiet text. The soft lines move just enough to create gentle energy within each frame. . . With a little water and tender loving care, it's a pleasure to watch this garden grow."—Kirkus Reviews

"Delicately illustrated. . . Oliphant's illustrations express the passage of time through changes in light. . . while Spurr's careful descriptions capture the slow but gratifying process of planting and harvesting."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

It takes time for flowers to bloom, but the delightful fruits of this labor prove worth the wait. A young boy works to nurture his blossoming yard. Individual words build to a natural crescendo. "Covers / Wets / Waits / Forgets / Rain / Sun / Boy shouts. / Green sprouts peep out!" The passage of time is clearly marked in the illustrations as the boy takes care of (and forgets) his gardening chores, and the natural rhymes reflect the growth of the season. No adults interfere with this child-centered experience. Subtle, understated spreads complement the powerfully quiet text. The soft lines move just enough to create gentle energy within each frame. The cherub-cheeked youngster maintains his gentle smile as he works. An imposing tree remains a focal point for the pictures in long shots, providing extra stability. Shifts in perspective allow children to get dirty with the young gardener. With a little water and tender loving care, it's a pleasure to watch this garden grow. (Board book. 1-3)

Kirkus Reviews