A group of youngsters plant a 'surprise garden' in this picture-book from author Zoe Hall and illustrator Shari Halpern, waiting to see what will grow from the unknown seeds they have sown. Each plant that flowers and then produces a vegetable is a surprise, and in the end they enjoy the bounty of their garden, having a surprise garden party...

Hall and Halpern produced four picture-books together, three of which - It's Pumpkin Time!, The Apple Pie Tree and Fall Leaves Fall - had an autumn theme. The Surprise Garden, which is the fourth and final book from this team that I have picked up, has more of a spring and summer theme. It pairs a simple text with bright, collage-style artwork, and includes a brief afterword showing which vegetable came from which seed. Although not my favorite, of the Hall and Halpern books - that honor goes to the lovely The Apple Pie Tree - this was engaging, and is one I would recommend to picture-book readers looking for stories about gardening, and eating the produce of a garden. ( )

the book discusses the process of planting and gardening different plants. it discusses different animals that are found in the garden.
10 books
1 cassette

24 months - I liked the idea of this book. We tried to guess what each type of seed was going to turn into and it was fun to see the garden grow and produce fruit. ( )

I love this story! I love that the pictures promote mathematics, its not just reading a book. The story is a great informational tool to teach the reader(s) about planting and sustaining a garden. The story also explains what each type of plant may look like when it has blossomed. The text explains where each vegetable will grow. The illustrations are bold and colorful! They really tell the story. At the end of the story, the children are eating what they have grown which promotes a sense of sustainability for a younger generation. ( )

A perfect resource and story for a lesson on seeds, gardening and careful observation. The cut paper illustrations of children are joyful and expressive and the short story clearly lays a foundation for a surpise garden to be created. Could also lead to a lesson on permaculture and plant diversity. ( )