"A Giraffe and a Half", "Tea Rex" and "The Gardener"

A variety of events from the hopeful to the fantastic to the preposterous.

The Gardener
5 stars
Author: Sarah Stewart
Illustrator: David Small

Lydia Grace is young during the Depression. After her father loses his job, she is sent to stay with her Uncle Jim. He is a baker in the city and never smiles. Every text is in the form of a letter.
Gardening with her Grandmother has been very important to Lydia Grace. She arrives in the city with a portfolio of seeds. Soon many places are filled with plants blooming and growing. Is it enough to make Uncle Jim smile?
The illustrations reflect the 1930s in style and coloring. The vehicles and clothes are so typical of those times.

Tea Rex
5 stars
Author/Illustrator: Molly Idle

How do you hold a successful tea party? The text gives you instructions from how to greet your special guest to holding the tea to helping your guest depart. All is very calm, formal and elegant.
Except the special guest is a T. rex. The delight is in the illustrations as this guest tries to be the perfect guest. Unfortunately this guest has difficulty fitting through the door, sitting on the chairs, and is far too large for the tea and food being offered. These illustrations are humorous.

A Giraffe and a Half
4 stars
Author/Illustrator: Shel Silverstein

This additive rhyming text is based on a preposterous premise. It is a list of shenanigans to stretch the imagination. It would make a great read aloud book.
The illustrations are line drawings and make the preposterous seem almost possible.