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Sarah Hyman Stewart
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The Gardener: (Caldecott Honor Book) Paperback – Illustrated, May 1, 2007

by Sarah Stewart (Author), David Small (Illustrator)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 507 ratings
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The Gardener is a 1997 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year and a 1998 Caldecott Honor Book.

From the author-and-illustrator team of the bestselling The Library.

Lydia Grace Finch brings a suitcase full of seeds to the big gray city, where she goes to stay with her Uncle Jim, a cantankerous baker. There she initiates a gradual transformation, bit by bit brightening the shop and bringing smiles to customers' faces with the flowers she grows. But it is in a secret place that Lydia Grace works on her masterpiece -- an ambitious rooftop garden -- which she hopes will make even Uncle Jim smile. Sarah Stewart introduces readers to an engaging and determined young heroine, whose story is told through letters written home, while David Small's illustrations beautifully evoke the Depression-era setting.

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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    5 - 9 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    40 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    1 - Preschool
  5. Lexile measure
    AD570L
  6. Dimensions
    8.25 x 0.1 x 10.7 inches
  7. Publisher
    Square Fish
  8. Publication date
    May 1, 2007
  9. ISBN-10
    031236749X
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0312367497
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Late in the summer of 1935, Lydia Grace's parents are out of work, and to help make ends meet they send Lydia Grace to live with Uncle Jim, a baker in the city...Told entirely through letters, the story radiates her utterly (and convincingly) sunny personality...[An] inspiring offering from creative collaborators.” ―Starred, Publishers Weekly

“A moving, wonderfully rich illustrated story. It is that rarity, a pictorial delight that in 20 double pages gives more and more of itself each time it's read, and whose silent complexities reveal themselves with continuing pleasure.” ―The New York Times Book Review

About the Author

Husband and wife duo Sarah Stewart and David Small have worked together on several picture books, including The Friend, The Money Tree, and The Library. The Gardener is a Caldecott Honor book. Small has also illustrated other books, including the 2001 Caldecott Medal winner So You Want to Be President?, by Judith St. George. Stewart and Small live in a historic home on a bend of the St. Joseph River in Michigan.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Square Fish; Reissue edition (May 1, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 031236749X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312367497
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 5 - 9 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD570L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 1 - Preschool
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.25 x 0.1 x 10.7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 507 ratings

About the author

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Sarah Hyman Stewart

Sarah Hyman Stewart

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
507 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Marie
5.0 out of 5 stars The Sweetest Book
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2023
Verified Purchase
I adore this book. I discovered it years ago when I was a college student and the family I was babysitting had it, and I got to read it to their kids at night. I thought it was so sweet, so it was one of the first books I bought to put in my kindergarten classroom the next year. And then, more recently, I bought a new copy when I was pregnant and planning for my little girl’s nursery. While it was a little harder for my young students to follow as a class {though some still really enjoyed it} and one that my one year old might not understand for awhile, I still absolutely love it. The pictures are beautiful, and the story is so touching. It will forever be a favorite of mine!
2 people found this helpful
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Trace Ballou
5.0 out of 5 stars Timely Historical Fiction disguised as Timely Tale of Young Girl and Her Garden
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2013
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The Gardener is an exquisite picture book in the best sense: none of the printed words are needed to tell the story. But Sarah Stewart's choice of wording adds a layer of complex sweetness to David Smalls' incredibly nuanced scenes of life for a country girl sent to live with her grouchy city uncle in 1935. My own father was sent away from his family's farm to abide with a more well-to-do couple and their kids during the Great Depression, and this book really helped his grandchildren to understand that time in our history.
Lydia Grace Finch's letters home tell her story, and her love of gardening infuses her every action so naturally that one comes away inspired by this girl. If you seek a book that will make your young ones feel empowered by their natural instinct to dig in the dirt, this is it. I want to carry my love of plants with me like Lydia Grace. I want to rise to the occasion like Lydia Grace. I want to create a garden like Lydia Grace.
I can never read this without tears of I don't know what welling up---it really is that beautiful of a story and of a picture book. There is transformative power in emotion, perhaps, but The Gardener certainly succeeds as a tale of the transformative power of gardening. Not for children only...although it is my gift of choice for newborns!
3 people found this helpful
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Books Children Read
5.0 out of 5 stars This Caldecott Honor Award winner shines brighter than the silver emblem on the cover.
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2023
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It’s 1935, and Lydia Grace is living in the country with her parents and grandmother. Everybody is out of work and the decision has been made to send her to the city to live with her Uncle Jim until things get better. Lydia loves to garden with her grandmother and is concerned that this will be difficult in the city.

This book has so many wonderful qualities it’s difficult to know where to begin. Told entirely through letters, first to Uncle Jim about coming to live with him, and then to her mother and grandmother about her life in the city. This unique quality of narration serves its purpose well as her letters radiate her sunny disposition and determination in the face of a very difficult time. Her determination is part of each and every letter to her family about her life in the city during the Depression.

This book would get 10 stars from this reviewer if that was an option.
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Heather Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2022
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I read this book to my second and third graders. We spent a month on it studying the story structure and learning vocabulary from the story. It was delightful. We loved Lydia Grace and became gardeners ourselves. A very sweet story about a girl whose family has fallen on hard times.
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Reviews Garden Junkie
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely, thought-provoking story.
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2021
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This is a heartwarming story told through letters between a resilient young girl and her family, from whom she is separated temporarily during the depression. She is a true gardener and is sustained by gardening, as well as by her optimistic attitude and compassion for others. She makes an impact on those around her and on the reader as well. My granchildren (3 through 7) and I have read this book together many times and never tire of the beautiful story. We first borrowed it from the library and then purchased our own copy.
4 people found this helpful
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Sally
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for reading aloud
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2013
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I bought this book for my mother (in her sixties, who loves gardening) to read to my daughter (age 3, who also loves gardening). It is such a perfect book for reading aloud - they read it over and over, and I loved listening to my mother's voice reading it. The book inspired traditions between them - my mother has been sending my daughter seeds in the mail, for example. But more than that, sharing the adventure of this lovely story is a kind of bonding experience - partly because the language is so lyrical and partly because the story is just sort of magical.

The book has had staying power in the short term - we continue to read it together - but it also has longevity. My three year old isn't too young to enjoy this book, but she'll grow into some of the details, too. I imagine sometime she will ask questions about some of the things we gloss over now - why Lydia Grace goes to live with her uncle, for example. There's a lot packed into this little book!
5 people found this helpful
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Lynda Joy Scheifele
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a wonderful book
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2022
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I bought this book for my children many years ago and we all enjoyed it. As I've gotten older and become a bit of a gardener myself it's become my favourite children's book so I thought I'd treat myself to my own copy. My children especially liked the part where I teared up, you'll know the part when you get the book. They thought that was hysterical and would ask me to read it again. This book is beautifully written and illustrated. My children and I also greatly appreciated another book of hers called "The Money Tree". I read it this week to my kindergarten class since we are doing a unit on plants and growing and they greatly liked it and followed it quite well. They also enjoyed "The Money Tree" which I read to them last month. They are both definitely keepers.
One person found this helpful
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Jenny H. Law
4.0 out of 5 stars This is a nice book. It teaches a little history
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2015
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This is a nice book. It teaches a little history, shows different ways of life and also mixes different people in a good way. The illustrations are colorful and full of detail. Writing the story through letters home gives a different perspective.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Caregiver
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful message about gardening that is rewarding.
Reviewed in Canada on January 28, 2020
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Liked that it was a good ending for everyone.
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K. Oolep
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 2, 2017
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Lovely colourful book! Such love Sarah Stewart books with David Small's sweet drawings!! Cheering up the heart
Nice safe fast delivery
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Nicole
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on February 17, 2018
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Such a heartwarming and wonderful story. Highly recommend!
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C. Burman
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 29, 2017
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Love this book - and I am not young :) Beautiful story and lovely illustrations.
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あんこちゃん
5.0 out of 5 stars 本の内容と絵が完璧にマッチしています☆
Reviewed in Japan on October 10, 2005
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タイトルは忘れてしまいましたが、この絵本に似た映画を子供の頃に観たのを覚えています。それにちなんだ絵本なのかもしれません。
　主人公の少女は親元を離れて、まだ会ったことのないおじさんの元へ向かいます。その間、おばあちゃんや両親に手紙を書きます。おじさんは気難し屋な人でしたが、詩を書いてあげたりして、だんだん溶け込んでいきます。ずっとガーデニングを夢みていた少女は、おばあちゃんが送ってくれた種を使ったりして、花園を作る計画を立てます。おじさんの元を離れる最後の日、少女はその花園でおじさんを迎え別れのパーティを開くのです。おじさんは本当は心のやさしい人。少女との別れを惜しむ場面も印象的でした。
　絵本の中の色とりどりの花の絵や、白黒の中に少女だけが色をつけているページ等、心の中の様子まで色でさりげなく表現されていました。
少女の書く手紙がそのまま本文になっているという、とてもお洒落、かつ感情を揺さぶられる一冊です。　
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