Michelle's Garden: How the First Lady Planted Seeds of Change

by Sharee Miller

Overview

Enjoy this tribute to Former First Lady Michelle Obama and her contributions to building the healthy future that America's children deserve—a White House story that’s perfect for celebrating America’s 250th birthday!
 
Former First Lady Michelle Obama had an idea. A big, inspiring, and exciting idea! She would grow the largest kitchen garden ever at the White House. This wouldn't be easy, since she'd never gardened before: Where should she start? What tools did she need? What would she plant?

Everyone needs help when they're learning something for the first time, even the first lady of the United States. So she gathered the help of local students, the White House staff, and even President Barack Obama. Together, they wouldn't just grow a garden—they would inspire a nation!

Acclaimed author and illustrator Sharee Miller provides a fresh, empowering picture book about one of beloved former First Lady Michelle Obama’s accomplishments.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316458573
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	03/02/2021
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 10.60(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Sharee Miller is an award-winning author and illustrator. Her debut graphic novel, Curlfriends: New in Town, won the Golden Kite Award for Illustrated Book/Graphic Novel for Older Readers and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. She is the creator of many critically acclaimed picture books, including Don't Touch My Hair!, Princess Hair, and Michelle’s Garden: How the First Lady Planted Seeds of Change, as well as Jordan's Perfect Haircut. She loves cats, bubble tea, and spending time with her friends. She lives in Jersey City with her spouse, son, and two cats, Pumpkin and Spice! Sharee invites you to visit her at shareemiller.com.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Michelle's Garden:
"Sure to encourage readers to eat their veggies and join Michelle Obama’s table, even if all they start with is a cup." —Kirkus Reviews

"Watercolor, colored pencil, and ink illustrations show expressive images of Obama’s unyielding commitment to the project alongside tools needed to get the job done."—Publishers Weekly

Praise for Princess Hair:
* "After decades of white princesses' domination of American fairy tales, Miller expands the vision of what princess hair can look like to black girls.... A sweet and joyful affirmation of the truth that 'NAPPY princesses are HAPPY princesses.'" —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Praise for Don’t Touch My Hair!:
 
* "Miller's lighthearted touch effectively delivers a serious, necessary message about respecting boundaries." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
 
* "Frank, funny, and revelatory." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
 

From the Publisher

2020-12-15
A young readers’ introduction to the work and legacy of former first lady Michelle Obama.

Miller opens with young Michelle Robinson and her brother as children riding their bicycles. “Before Michelle Obama was the First Lady, she was a kid just like you,” she writes, making her subject immediately accessible to young readers. The future first lady is seen enjoying a healthy diet full of veggies as a child and providing the same experience for her own family as an adult. The family exercises and eats home-cooked meals together, with Barack Obama and their daughters asking for more, just as Michelle Obama had done as a child. Miller describes how Michelle Obama sought assistance from White House chefs and gardeners and how she invited local students (depicted as a diverse group) to join in building and maintaining the garden. The bright cartoon illustrations detail both the tools needed and the work involved in building the lush garden. An author’s note shares additional information about the first lady’s garden, a 2010 photo of Michelle Obama at work in it, and a graphic guide to starting a garden with seeds planted in paper cups. Also included is a photo of Michelle Obama from 2010, working with a group of students in the White House garden.(This book was reviewed digitally with11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 60.2%of actual size.)

Sure to encourage readers to eat their veggies and join Michelle Obama’s table, even if all they start with is a cup. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews