The little gardener Helping children connect with the natural world

Gardener and debut author Cerny advocates for "ecological literacy" in this appealing guide for adults trying to interest children in gardening. "If we don't understand where natural resources come from, how can we ensure they will always be there for us?" Cerny asks. Her curriculum for remedying this defect covers designing, planting, and maintaining a garden, concentrating on ways to "garden like nature" (such as "companion planting, which simply means planting two or more species of plants close together to benefit at least one of them") and feel more connected to the land. Very much following a textbook model, Cerny creates detailed plans for learning activities, chapter reviews, and previews of each upcoming lesson. Her easy-to-follow explanations of such topics as ecosystems and soil erosion ("losing soil faster than nature can replenish it") should be illuminating for adults as well as kids. In addition to horticultural info, Cerny also dispenses some pointers on working with children with different learning styles. This informative and helpful primer will help grown-up gardeners inculcate a lifelong love of the natural world in young minds. With color illus. by Ysemay Dercon. (Mar.)

An outdoor educator who works at the Farm at the Landing in Stuyvesant, NY, Cerny has been teaching about gardening and nature for over a decade. Why should students pursue gardening? It cultivates ecological literacy, which is vital for children understanding how ecological systems support all life on Earth and how our personal choices affect the environment. Cerny captures the child's imagination by asking them to envision their dream garden, then turns their visions into reality by setting goals for its creation. The cycle is completed when children bring their own gardens to life and are able to sustain their own well-being by eating the foods they grew themselves. Multidisciplinary in scope, this book contains reading lists, journal prompts, and math and art tie-ins. VERDICT A comprehensive, fun, and colorful hands-on guide to gardening that will be enjoyable for children of all ages.