Nonfiction Monday & a Blog Tour

Welcome to Day 1 of Peachtree Publisher’s “Fins, Wings & Things Blog Tour”. I’m starting the week off with a review of Planting the Wild Garden. Come back Wednesday for an interview with author Kathryn Galbraith, and Friday for ideas on how you can make the world a better place with gardens. And make sure you enter the Book Giveaway (rules below).

Planting the Wild Garden

By Kathryn O. Galbraith, illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin

32 pages, for ages 4 – 8

Peachtree Publishers 2011

I love books that engage me from the moment I open the cover, so I got lost in Wendy Halperin’s excellent illustrations of seeds covering the end papers. And I spent a long time on the first spread, admiring the drawings of pumpkins, peas and cabbages from germinating seed to flower to fruit.

I also love the way Kathryn Galbraith begins the story: “The farmer and her boy plant their garden.” Maybe it’s because gardening was one thing I shared with my boys. Or maybe it’s because many of the farmers I know are women.

The farmer and her boy plant seeds, but over in the meadow other seeds are planted – and not by farmer’s hands. Galbraith’s lyrical language and Halperin’s detailed drawings take us on a whirlwind tour of seed dispersal. Seeds fly on the wind and on birds; they shatter from pods – snap, snap, like popcorn from a pan. Some seeds are carried away by rain; others hitch rides on furry tails or wooly socks. And even others are buried and forgotten. And all of them help make the roadsides and vacant lots and meadows beautiful.

Take some time this week to look at the plants growing in wild gardens around your neighborhood. And check out some seed activities at Growing With Science.

Book Giveaway

Enter to win a copy of  Planting the Wild Garden. This particular contest is limited to folks who live in the United States. All you have to do to enter is:

1. Become a follower on Archimedes Notebook if you’re not already (it’s easy – just click on the “follow” button at the bottom of the right column);

2. Leave a comment on this blog about why wild gardens and weedy places are important; and

3. email me at sueheaven{at}gmail{dot}com to let me know you’ve entered so I can email you if you win. I promise I won’t keep any email addresses.

The contest for this book ends Sunday April 17.

Remember to come back Wednesday when I’ll be hosting an interview with Kathryn Galbraith.

And don't forget to check out the other blog tour stops today, starting with Rebecca’s post at A Word’s Worth. Check out the complete tour schedule at Peachtree.

This post is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up  hosted this week by Apple With Many Seeds  

Review copy provided by the publisher.