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Summary
Summary
From award-winning, bestselling author Nina Laden comes a poetic picture book about having the courage and resilience to plant "seeds" that will improve ourselves and our community.
Sow seeds of strength,
Ride out the storm.
Sow seeds of compassion,
Make hearts warm.
After seeing an area in her local, Madagascar community devastated from drought, a young girl gets inspired. She should plant a garden--what could be more perfect? She gathers her friends, cooperates to make a plan, and gets to work. But when things go devastatingly wrong, what can they do?
It takes a lot of courage, but with the support of her whole community on her side, this girl won't give up. One way or another, she'll sow the seeds of change she's been dreaming of.
With sweet, lush art from Sawyer Cloud, this lyrical picture book about making the effort to invest in the future of ourselves and our community teaches an invaluable lesson about having the patience to see that, in time, effort will blossom into a more peaceful, loving, and accepting world.
Author Notes
Nina Laden is an award-winning, bestselling children's book author and illustrator. She was born and raised in the New York City area, the daughter of two artists. Nina writes, illustrates, and teaches occasionally. Her many books include The Night I Followed the Dog , Peek-a-Who , When Pigasso Met Mootisse , Roberto the Insect Architect , Once Upon a Memory , and Yellow Kayak . When she is not writing or drawing, she paddleboards, takes long beach walks, hunts for agates, forages for mushrooms, makes jewelry, and cooks up a storm, amongst other things. She lives on a little island in the San Juan Islands of Washington State with her husband, Booth, and their Siberian cat, Marley.
Sawyer Cloud is a self-taught, freelance artist who loves sunny days and music. When she's not drawing, you can find Sawyer singing out loud in her room and wearing her favorite fairy costume. She lives in Madagascar with her family and two pets, Arya the dog and Potter the cat.
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--While the text is a rhyming couplet about the power of seeds, a story of children creating a garden emerges from the pictures. Easy enough for early readers to decipher, this book is the epitome of the adage "show, don't tell." A mix of soft watercolor and bright acrylics are contrasted with the brown soil and trees. When the garden takes hold, though, the lush greens and beautiful produce become the stars. Children are shown working together to solve a problem while overcoming setbacks. While readers never learn anyone's name or the location of the garden, the overarching themes of togetherness and community shine through. VERDICT A beautiful book about the power of community; even its smallest members, the children, have a big impact.--Jessica Durham
Kirkus Review
A lyrical guide to community building through agriculture. Succinct rhyming couplets tell the story of a Black child taking action in a village in Madagascar. The little one sows seeds that ultimately yield an inspirational garden and so much more. The unseen narrator notes that seeds of strength, compassion, gratitude, and hope are all crucial parts of caring for our community: "Sow seeds of strength, / ride out the storm. Sow seeds of compassion, / make hearts warm." As the little one enlists the support of the other young children in the village, their shared determination and cooperation through even the stormiest weather are profoundly motivational as the narrator suggests that readers "Rise above the gloom / and find the courage to bloom." The concepts of gardening and seeds are undoubtedly accessible early metaphors, and the pairing of verse and art smartly turns growing food into lessons on equality, justice, and nonviolence. Digital illustrations feature rich earth tones and the lush coloring of diverse fruit and vegetables. In an author's note, Laden discusses how her experiences gardening informed her narrative, while Cloud's illustrator's note explains how she took inspiration from time spent in Madagascar's Ankarafantsika National Park. Fruitful and nourishing in good measure. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
