Busy in the Garden
What’s inside...
A collection of short poems and riddles about planting seeds, watching garden vegetables dance, and growing jack-o-lanterns. The book also introduces Amazing Snakes! as part of an award-winning series of I Can Read Books featuring photographs from the Wildlife Conservation Society. This standout series pairs exceptional writing and design with global conservation efforts and educational programs. Additionally, the book includes twenty-four poems that explore activities in the garden such as picking bouquets, uprooting rutabagas, looking for four-leaf clovers, and eating juicy berries.
Age
4-8
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What did you like best about what was happening in the garden?
How do you think the garden feels when it's being taken care of?
What are some ways we can help our own garden or plants grow?
Can you imagine what our garden would say to us if it could talk?
How did the characters in the book work together to take care of the garden?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts about the garden's activities by relating it to any gardening experiences they’ve had or would like to have.
Use expressive questions that allow your child to think creatively about the dialogues and scenarios in the book.
After reading, consider spending time in a garden or starting a small plant project at home to deepen the connection with the book's themes.
Discuss the importance of caring for nature and how teamwork plays a role in maintaining a garden, drawing parallels with the book's storyline.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork and Cooperation
Explanation: The characters in 'Busy in the Garden' work together to maintain and nurture the garden, showing how teamwork can create something beautiful and productive.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by collaborating with classmates on school projects or helping family members with household chores, understanding the value of working together towards a common goal.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: The book portrays the characters taking care of the garden daily, demonstrating the importance of regular commitment to responsibilities.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to take care of their belongings, pets, or even a small plant, helping them understand the importance of regular attention and care.
Example Lesson: Patience and Perseverance
Explanation: Gardening is a slow process and the characters wait patiently for plants to grow, learning that some results are worth waiting for.
Real-World Application: Children learn to be patient during tasks such as learning a new skill or waiting for their turn. It teaches them that perseverance can lead to rewarding outcomes.
Example Lesson: Appreciation for Nature
Explanation: The book highlights the beauty and diversity of the garden ecosystem, encouraging an appreciation for nature and the environment.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to explore and protect their natural environment, fostering a lifelong respect and stewardship for the earth.
Example Lesson: Observation Skills
Explanation: By observing the garden's growth and changes, characters learn to notice small details and patterns.
Real-World Application: This can help children develop keen observation skills, useful in scientific thinking and problem-solving in everyday life.