Compiled by Deborah Keefe, Extension Master Gardener
Do you have a budding young master gardener in your family? Are you looking for a holiday gift to encourage interest in gardening, nature, and the environment? Here are some books recommended by Extension Master Gardeners and by the American Horticultural Society. Descriptions of the books are from the publishers’ websites.
Find more titles on the Growing Good Kids Book Awards website, from Junior Master Gardeners & the American Horticultural Society.
- Mae the Mayfly
by Denise Brennan-Nelson. Florence Weiser, illustrator. (Sleeping Bear Press, 2020)
Age Range: 5 – 8 Years
When Mae the mayfly first hatches she learns she’ll have just a day to enjoy the world. But soon a hungry trout has her racing for cover! As she peeks from her hiding spot and notices some of nature’s most beautiful sights, she realizes she must live in the moment and experience everything the–sometimes scary–world has to offer. - Saguaro’s Gifts
by Kurt Cyrus. Andy Atkins, illustrator. (Sleeping Bear Press, 2021)
Age Range: 5 – 8 Years
Celebrating a birthday is always a happy occasion but never more so in this desert community than when it’s a centenary for a grand Saguaro cactus! For one hundred years, the majestic cactus has anchored this vibrant neighborhood, providing food, shelter, and shade to the local wildlife inhabitants. In beautiful rhyming text, the creatures that depend on Saguaro’s gifts come to pay homage, including the tiny bat that sips nectar from the plant’s flower, the finches looking for a place to build their nest, and the grateful tortoise that enjoys its fruit. - Badger’s Perfect Garden
by Marsha Diane Arnold. Ramona Kaulitzki, illustrator. (Sleeping Bear Press, 2019)
Age Range: 5 – 8 Years
It’s springtime and Badger is ready to plant the perfect garden. He has spent months gathering and sorting seeds. It’s been a lot of work but it’s worth it. His friends Red Squirrel, Dormouse, and Weasel come to help. They weed. They rake. And finally they plant. Afterward, everyone celebrates, and Badger can already imagine the perfect rows of flowers and vegetables. But then a rainstorm comes and washes away the beautiful seeds. Badger’s perfect garden is ruined. Or is it? - The Wall and the Wild
by Christina Dendy. Katie Reese, illustrator. (Lantana Publishing, 2021)
Age Range: 4 – 8 Years
In a plot of land at the edge of town, Ana grows only perfectly-sized plants and perfect-looking flowers and throws all the irregular shoots and uneven seeds over the wall into the disorderly Wild. But as her garden gets tidier, neater and more constrained, the Wild begins to grow… - Because of an Acorn
by Lola M. Schaefer and Adam Schaefer. Frann Preston-Gannon, illustrator. (Chronicle Books, 2016)
Age Range: 5 – 8 Years
Because of an acorn, a tree grows, a bird nests, a seed becomes a flower. Enchanting die-cuts illustrate the vital connections between the layers of an ecosystem in this magical book. Wander down the forest path to learn how every tree, flower, plant, and animal connect to one another in spiraling circles of life. An acorn is just the beginning.
- Listen to the Language of the Trees
by Tera Kelley. Marie Hermansson, illustrator. (Dawn Publications, 2022)/
Age Range: 4 – 8 Years
This fascinating picture book explores the underground communication system between trees and helps young readers see that the natural world’s survival depends on staying connected and helping others—just like us! The fascinating mycorrhizal fungi network runs underground through the forest via the roots of trees, allowing for connection and communication. Listen to the Language of the Trees captures the magic of talking trees that take care of their neighbors (not to mention the mysterious fungi that help them do it). - Carl and the Meaning of Life
Written and illustrated by Deborah Freedman. (Viking, 2019)
Age Range: 3 – 5 Years
Carl is an earthworm. He spends his days happily tunneling in the soil until a field mouse asks him a simple question that stops him short: “Why?” Carl’s quest takes him on an adventure to meet all the animals of the forest, each of whom seems to know exactly what they were put on this earth to do, unlike the curious Carl. But it’s not until the world around him has changed that Carl begins to realize everyone, no matter how small, makes a big difference just by being themselves. - One Little Lot: The 1-2-3s of an Urban Garden
by Diane C. Mullen. Oriol Vidal, illustrator. (Charlesbridge, 2020)
Age Range: 3 – 7 Years
One little lot sits abandoned in the hustle and bustle . . . Count the ways this urban community unites to clean up one abandoned little lot and transform it into a thriving community garden. It all starts with two helping hands, a visitor who sees potential and gets people together to take action. As the garden grows, neighbors and strangers become friends, eventually sharing in a special feast with their harvest bounty. - Before We Eat: From Farm to Table
by Pat Brisson Mary Azarian, illustrator. (Tilbury House Publishers, 2014, 2nd edition, 2018)
Age Range: 3 – 5 Years
Milk doesn’t just appear in your refrigerator, nor do apples grow in the bowl on the kitchen counter. Before we eat, many people work very hard planting grain, catching fish, tending farm animals, and filling crates of vegetables. With vibrant illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Mary Azarian, this book reminds us what must happen before food gets to our tables to nourish our bodies and spirits. This expanded edition of Before We Eat includes back-of-book features about school gardens and the national farm-to-school movement. - Fresh-Picked Poetry: A Day at the Farmers’ Market
by Michelle Schaub,. Amy Huntington, illustrator. (Charlesbridge, 2017)
Age Range: 4 – 8 Years
This collection of poems takes young readers to a day at an urban farmers’ market. Who to see, what to eat, and how produce is grown–it’s all so exciting, fresh, and delicious. Readers are invited to peruse the stands and inspect vendors’ wares with poems like “Farmer Greg’s Free-Range Eggs,” “Summer Checklist,” and “Necessary Mess.” Bright and vibrant, this is the perfect guide for little ones to take with them on marketing day to inspire literacy and healthy eating.