Thursday, February 25, 2010

The Good Book: The Garden in the City by Gerda Muller

I love this book. For those apartment dwellers among us, you can understand the longing for a little piece of land to look after. This book clearly demonstrates the dream of tending to a garden: a family buys an old, charming house with a huge, overgrown yard. The parents proceed to restore the yard to life, involving their children in each task, until the two young kids, along with their buddy from next door, have their own gardens that keep them busy! outdoors! frolicking! pulling weeds! listening to birds! I especially love that the home is set in the city. I love living in a city (Ok, New Haven isn't a big city, but it is very urban). Now I just have to figure out how to have a garden in the city. That would be perfect.



We have been up to our ears in library books--Peter has been devouring them! Tonight, before bed, he said, "I'm feeling kind of 'read-y'." Then he gave me that look that means I'm sure you aren't smart enough to know what I'm talking about and explained, "Mama, being 'read-y' MEANS that I need to read some books." I have been relying heavily on Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt. This juvenile literature reference has thousands of great recommendations from babies through to teenage readers. It's been fun to request books for both Peter and Nathan. The Salt Lake Library System has a fabulous online request system and I can pile on the requests at home and have the books ready for us the next day! Please, someone, tell me that Connecticut libraries have this system in place! I don't think I can go back!

4 comments:

Jill said...

Thanks for the book recommendations. Just last night I spent way too long trying to find a new book for Kate. She keeps requesting chapter books, but seriously, I don't think she's ready for that. So I was searching for something in between. I ended up with the classic Winnie the Pooh, but I think this book looks great! And love your napkins. I'm just feeling a little sad that I won't be able to see them in action!

Eva said...

I would LOVE to share my garden with you when you return. Please! And, the Whitneyville library is good at requests--they'll call you when it's in, usually in two days. (that pink house still has signs on it, btw.)

Robyn said...

That book reminded me of another one that you might enjoy called Seed Folks.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Seedfolks/Paul-Fleischman/e/9780064472074/?itm=1&USRI=seed+folks

Lori said...

I have dreams of a garden too. Sigh. Someday. And if you get Connecticut libraries to do online requests ready for the next day, I need to learn your tricks.