Planting the Wild Garden
A farmer and her son carefully plant seeds in their garden. In the wild garden, many seeds are planted too, but not by farmers' hands. Different kinds of animals transport all sorts of seeds, often without knowing it. Sometimes rain washes seeds away to a new and unexpected location. And sometimes something extraordinary occurs, as when the pods of Scotch broom burst open explosively in the summer heat, scattering seeds everywhere like popcorn.
Kathryn Galbraith's lyrical prose seamlessly combines with Wendy Halperin's elegant, crisp illustrations to show that many elements-some unexpected-work together through the seasons to create and sustain the wild meadow garden.
Author & Illustrator
Kathryn O. Galbraith is an award-winning children's book author with more than a dozen picture books to her credit, including Boo, Bunny!; Arbor Day Square; Traveling Babies; and Laura Charlotte. She teaches writing for children at the University of Washington.
You can visit Kathryn O. Galbraith’s website here.
Wendy Anderson Halperin is the illustrator of over twenty-five books, including Thank You, God, For Everything and Turn! Turn! Turn! She also created the award-winning project "Drawing Children into Reading." She lives in Michigan.
You can visit Wendy Anderson Halperin’s website here.
Reviews
“...The sumptuous illustrations by Wendy Anderson convey the richness and profusion of wild plantings...” ―Los Angeles Times
“Wendy Anderson Halperin's lovely, muted illustrations match Galbraith's poetic lines...” ―Seattle Times Sunday
“...Wendy Anderson Halperin's pencil and watercolor illustrations are the book's carrying force, showing the small finenesses of the natural world.” ―Chicago Tribune
“...There's plenty to pore over and savor; this title would germinate nicely in primary classrooms and sow curiosity in one-on-one sharing.” ―Kirkus
“...It's a thoroughly handsome book, suffused with calm.” ―Publishers Weekly
“...A natural choice for curriculum connections.” ―Booklist
“...from the elegant seed-full endpapers to the carefully selected font, this is a lovely introduction to the modes of seed dispersal...” ―School Library Journal
“...In this lyrical picture book, text and illustrations combine to demonstrate the many ways seeds are distributed - by weather, water, people, animals and the plants themselves...” ―Midwest Book Review
“...This lovely and poetic picture book by Kathryn O. Galbraith demonstrates for young readers the many methods of seed dispersal at work on the planet...Endpapers are also beautifully illustrated, featuring examples of many types of seeds...” ―Parents' Choice
Awards
Parents' Choice Gold Award ―Parents' Choice Foundation 2011
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 ―NSTA / CBC 2012
Green Earth Book Award (shortlist, picture book) ―Newton Marasco Foundation 2012
Cybils (finalist, nonfiction picture books) ―Cybils 2011
Georgia Children's Picture Storybook Award (nominee) ―University of Georgia 2012-2013
Cook Prize (shortlist) ―Bank Street College of Education Children's Book Committee 2012
Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (primary) ―Kansas National Education Association 2012
Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award (primary nominee) ―Keystone State Reading Association 2012-2013
Best Children's Books of the Year ―Bank Street College of Education 2012
Kentucky Bluegrass Awards (Master List, grades K-2) ―Kentucky Reading Association, Kentucky School Media Association 2013

