1 March 2022
32 pages
This month’s PB review is by Ryan G. Van Cleave (Owner/Operator of Only Picture Books) and longtime OPB friend (and Ringling College of Art and Design Illustration Professor) John Herzog.
–Ryan’s Review of the Writing–
I got interested in this book via the cover and story concept even before I realized it was the second book in a series (Where in the Garden?). Regardless, the book works fine on its own, though I have to say that it’s best suited for a very young audience due to its straightforward, simple plot and use of basic language and concepts. I say this in the most positive way–there’s a decidedly Mr. Rogers feel to lines such as: “Today, Miguel must find his sunflowers for his garden party. What do we know about sunflowers?”
The reader is invited to join Miguel and his pet tortoise on their journey to find a sunflower to decorate the Community Garden Party. That’s not as easy as it sounds because the garden is full of plants, so Miguel needs a hand with identifying them. He carefully examines eight types of plants before his criteria for what makes a sunflower a sunflower finally matches what he sees before him. The STEM focus of paying close attention to the attributes of a living thing might generate interesting discussions during or after the reading.
I’m also charmed by how Miguel isn’t daunted in his task when a quick rainshower arrives. He just tugs up his yellow rain slicker and keeps examining the characteristics of the plants before him. It’s hard not to smile, too, at how the tortoise sneaks off to take a happy chomp out of the spinach. Somehow, Samara Hardy has found the visual secret to making fruits and veggies look scrumptious, as that tortoise is proving right there on the page. He’s having a total blast with those leaves!
One of the clear strengths of this book is the repetition of key words that allow young readers to gain lots of useful read-aloud practice. While some of the plants might be a bit exotic for some kids–I’m looking at you, artichokes and mulberries!–their names won’t be overly challenging. The art provides helpful visual context, as well.
For those who want an adult-guided extension activity, the book includes the recipe for Sunflower Seed Salad. Normally, I ignore recipes in kid books, but something about this one makes me seriously want to give it a try. Perhaps it’s the luscious art throughout, or the delicious visuals on the end papers?
Quite simply, the book is charming and the which-plant-is-it? plot is compelling enough for this age range. Add in the art that’s just teeming with life on nearly every page, and this is a worthwhile, lively book.
4.25 out of 5 pencils
–John’s Review of the Illustrations–
Miguel’s Community Garden is a pleasant surprise for me. I must admit that when I looked at the cover, I had my own preconceived notions regarding what the book would be about and what the main conflict would be. It’s easy for me to let that cynical, “Oh, I know what this is going to be because I know everything” side of me emerge just by looking at the cover. However, after reading it, that attitude took a back seat and was replaced with a very gratifying sense of discovery and joy, and the old adage really hit home:
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
While Miguel’s Community Garden does skew towards a younger audience (two- and three-year-olds will be in rapture) it doesn’t ever pander to them–in both the writing and the illustrations. I’ve ranted about this in a previous review here on Only Picture Books. We’re on this journey of discovery and learning with Miguel, a pleasant little boy who is simply trying to find some sunflowers for a garden party at his local community garden. We learn, along with him, about various fruits and vegetables and how they grow. And we even get a recipe for a sunflower seed salad at the end, connecting nicely with the main conflict of the book.
While the illustrations were created digitally, they implement a wonderful, Eric Carle-like sensibility with rich, tangible textures and vibrant colors. There is beauty in the simplicity here, and Samara Hardy’s lovely illustrations complement that notion well.
The whole book is meditation on the beauty of simplicity, really. Simple ingredients, simple situations, simple storytelling… But don’t let that fool you. It’s incredibly difficult to distill something down to its simplest form while keeping it relatable and understandable. It’s easy to clutter up deficiencies with detail, and Hardy and author Janay Brown-Wood avoid that completely here.
My only critique is that parents and older children may not find the book as engaging due to the subject matter. No doubt this is territory they’ve trod before. However, younger kids–and parents who are kids at heart–will thoroughly enjoy learning about various fruits and vegetables with Miguel. Personally, I found it a lovely change of pace to read a picture book that isn’t trying to tackle big, existential themes. It’s also incredibly fun to look at thanks to Hardy’s wonderful illustrations.
4.5 out of 5 crayons
John Herzog is an illustrator and educator. He has created work for Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Little, Brown and Company, Highlights for Children, DreamWorks TV, and Hasbro. He also teaches illustration at Ringling College of Art and Design.
John is a member of the National Cartoonists Society and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, where he received the 2018 SCBWI Magazine Merit Award. He lives in Florida with his family.
John is represented by Kayla Cichello at Upstart Crow Literary.