One Little Lot: The 1-2-3s of an Urban Garden

by Diane C. Mullen, Oriol Vidal (Contributor)

In a bustling, urban neighborhood, count the ways one little lot becomes a beautiful community vegetable garden.

Count all the ways (one to ten) an urban community unites to clean up an abandoned lot. From building planter boxes to pulling weeds to planting seeds, everyone works together to transform the lot into a bountiful vegetable garden. As the garden grows, strangers become friends, eventually sharing in a special feast with the harvest they grew.

Genres: Picture Books, Counting, Nature, Gardening, Storytime, Childrens, Realistic Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 3, 2020

Reviews

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before text begins, readers are faced with a full page spread of a miserable, trashy lot, fronted with a rusted fence and smushed against the graffiti'd wall of a high rise. The title page introduces a curious bee, leading to a page turn bees'-eye-view of that lot. The count-up to success begins with the count of "One Little lot"- with nothing to offer those bees, or the busy, diverse folks who pass it by. "Two helping hands" launch the changes that invite others to transform, to dream, to develop, to celebrate the potential of this space.
By the count of ten, readers have witnessed the necessary steps to achieve that success, to grow a community, better nutrition, and the hub of urban life. Back matter informs us that the author's little 10X10 lot in Minnesota was the inspiration, but the lessons can apply anywhere. Two other short passages explore the necessity of bees, and ways to attract bees into urban gardens.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! An empty city lot where strangers walk by is transformed into a place full of community. Bees that have no flowers to pollinate help create beautiful vegetables. The book shows how individuals working collaboratively can make a big impact. My favorite page is the SEVEN page (counting book too!) with arms watering plants. Each arm is a different shade, some with tattoos, and all with a different watering tool.

The end of the book also has simple instructions for planting your own bee friendly garden. Great read a loud, great inspiration, great read!

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

One Little Lot: the 1-2-3s of an urban garden by Diane C. Mullen, illustrated by Oriol Vidal. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2020. $17. 9781580898898

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

A quick look at the birth of a community garden in the manner of a counting book. While the illustrations support the simple text and are bright and lively, there are some simple things that could have made this a repeat read – including other sets of the same number of things to count on each page, increasing the number of people in the illustrations in a way that they are accumulative and you can follow them from page to page. As is, it is a simple book that kids will read through once and not pick up again.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book and what it is trying to show, along with backmatter that tells what inspired the story and about bees as pollinators, but am disappointed with the way the illustrator chose to make the Asian characters' eyes as angled lines when the rest get circular dots.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a group of neighbors get together, a strewn lot is transformed into a bustling community garden, soon to become a local gem. As quickly as it takes to count to ten, soil is raked, bees pollinate, and plants become bountiful vegetables. Each page of Mullen’s narrative takes you through the steps involved in urban gardening. Alongside each number, alliteration is employed in the narrative (“three long days are spent together - prodding, pulling, and preparing”), making it fun for reading out loud. Words are printed to follow the action, and the placement of text varies by page, sometimes its horizontal, other times it zig zags across the layout. The mixed media illustrations have a cartoony feel, people have round faces and big noses, with little other facial details, but the beautiful use of light makes up for this shortcoming. A summer palette radiates sunshine, with lots of yellows and greens used in the landscape scenes. A range of brown and beige are used to represent people, the group that is hard at work in the garden represent a diverse population, shown in a variety of hair and skin colors. Families living in smaller spaces will enjoy the message that gardening can be enjoyed anywhere. Back matter includes a note about the author’s own urban garden in Minneapolis, and a comment on the importance of bees and how to make your green space “bee-friendly.”

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice book about community and gardening. When incorporating counting though, the illustrations should match the number on the page. 10 friends spread shows 15 people yes, the text says 10 friends clean, chop, peel, cook but please just show those 10 and not 5 extras.

[Tracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Count to ten as an urban lot turns into a community garden.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very, very nice story. And idea.

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

The literal child might wonder how nine different plants came from six packs of seeds, but it really is a solid story about community and gardening and the illustrations are great

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Counting and gardening and beautiful illustrations.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about community and working together. Although it won't be as cute if whoever owns that lot decides to claim it now that it's clean and useful.

[Ryan Laferney · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspirational (and true story) of a group of folks cleaning up an urban lot and turning it into a beautiful urban garden. A great concept book!

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book about planting a garden in an empty city lot.

[Destiny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute picture book story for kids about a community starting a garden in their city. The art is rich and vibrant with advice at the end to help bees.

[Abbigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute counting book about a community garden, but it really bugs me that there were more than 10 people on the 10 page.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice story of a garden, of teamwork, and making something good from something neglected. My two year old granddaughter stayed engaged. Nice illustrations.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This title is another one of my go tos for gardening displays and featuring at plant swaps