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| Stewart, S. (1997). The gardener. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. |
The Gardener
By Sarah Stewart
Illustrated by David Small
Farrar Straus Giroux
New York, New York
1997
40 pages
The year is 1935. Lydia Grace Finch is a young flower lover who, forced by the hard times of the Great Depression, must leave her family to go live with her Uncle Jim, a grumpy baker, in an unfamiliar city. She packs her suitcase with seeds and off she goes. In the city, Lydia finds a place to call her own - the rooftop of the building her uncle's bakery is in. She decides to plant a beautiful garden with one goal - to get Uncle Jim to smile. With enthusiasm and optimism, she works to bring a little bit of the farm back home to her new city home - slowly, as she makes friends with neighbors and bakery employees, Sarah brings the rooftop to life - but will she win Uncle Jim's smile?
This is a wonderful book to read aloud. David Small's illustrations are wonderfully evocative - sometimes deeply moving and other times gently humorous. They are smoothly drawn and reflect the time period well.
This story is told through Lydia's letters home, making it a great book for a mentor text lesson on letter writing, probably for younger students. The book can also be used with older students, though, to discuss the implications of the Great Depression.
Purchase the book here.
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