A delightful and inspirational book that will encourage children to become gardeners.

Acclaimed gardening writer Stefan Buczacki and his wife Beverley, an experienced primary school head teacher, have written this informative book for making gardening a fun activity that all members of the family can enjoy.

The book is nicely laid out according to the seasons, and offers suggestions for how children can be creative throughout the year through a range of projects and fun activities such as learning how to grow a runner bean wigwam, building a bird table, or making a scary Halloween lantern with your very own pumpkins.

Drawings and photographs accompany a child-friendly text that, if used effectively, will help to foster an understanding and love of the natural world. Buczacki’s observations are thoughtful and practical, and it will bring home to young readers the idea that food comes from nature, and that basic gardening skills can be very rewarding.

What distinguishes this book is that the author, who is a gardener, writes about it in such an inspiring way. Adults will learn new things too unless they are already expert gardeners. It is not a book to be read from cover to cover perhaps, but can be dipped into for projects that will capture a child’s interest throughout the year. In that sense it is probably a book to be used with an adult alongside to help children get the most out of its contents. I heartily recommend it for all children. It offers some truly excellent ideas that can be used at home with family or at school, especially ones with school gardening projects.

2009-05-18