The Book Corner: The Good Garden

There are so many vibrant and inspiring gardening books for children or the child in each of us.

One that captured my imagination is: “The Good Garden: How One Family Went from Hunger to Having Enough”.

“The Good Garden” is written by Katie Smith Milway with  illustrations by Sylvie Daugneault.  Interestly, Ms. Smith first wrote a biography of Honduran farmer and trainer, Don Elias Sanchez.  Then, to hear her describe it, she “transplanted” his story into the wonderful children's book, “The Good Garden”.  Based on real-life happenings, Smith's inspiring book tells of a poor Honduran farm family and their young daughter, Maria.  The family is barely subsisting until one day a new teacher comes to Maria's school.  He shows her class how to develop sustainable farming practices that can give them good crop yields which can change their lives. Maria and her family employ these techniques and Maria even begins growing a cash crop, radishes—bringing in money for the family.

This is a wonderfully written book with sumptuous illustrations. It' s more than a children's book about gardening.  It's a book about showing children, (and all of us!), how we can take local action in our own communities to make a positive change while solving a universal problem.  It also is a powerful but gentle window on the world of world hunger and food scarcity that presents these realities without preaching to or alarming the elementary aged reader.

Another plus about this terrific volume is that it's published by “Kids Can Press” which is part of the CitizenKid Series.  This is an impressive series which simplifies global issues for elementary aged kids--giving concrete ideas for how to help and change big problems into viable, manageable  solutions.  This is a must read for all of us.

the good garden

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