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We Are a Garden: A Story of How Diversity Took Root in America
This lyrical and extremely timely picture book illuminates the many different immigrants who have made their homes in North America through the centuries.
Long ago a strong wind blew. It blew people, like seeds, to a new land.
The wind blew in a girl and her clan, where herds of mammoths still wandered the frozen tundra. It later blew a boy and his family across frigid waters, and they spread across the new land. Over time, the wind continued to disperse newcomers from all directions. It blew in men who hoped to find gold, and slave ships, and immigrant families. And so it continued, for generations and generations. Here is a moving and tender picture book that beautifully examines centuries of North American history and its immigrants.
Long ago a strong wind blew. It blew people, like seeds, to a new land.
The wind blew in a girl and her clan, where herds of mammoths still wandered the frozen tundra. It later blew a boy and his family across frigid waters, and they spread across the new land. Over time, the wind continued to disperse newcomers from all directions. It blew in men who hoped to find gold, and slave ships, and immigrant families. And so it continued, for generations and generations. Here is a moving and tender picture book that beautifully examines centuries of North American history and its immigrants.
40 pages, Library Binding
First published April 6, 2021
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118 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Westberg Peters
28 books10 followersLisa Westberg Peters is a children's author and poet from St. Paul, Minnesota. Her books often have a scientific focus.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
June 20, 2021
In an attempt to tell the story of the land and people of what is most recently called the USA, I found many problematic aspects, some of which I share below. Some are expanded upon in end notes more clearly:
-Cover: Something feels off with the tag line “A story of how diversity took root in America”. My gut tells me this sounds like diversity was the goal, not a product of colonization, enslavement, and persecution. Diversity didn’t take “root”, but white supremacy did. The image shows Native folx in the background (some shapeless blobs), white colonizers and refugees in the mid-ground, and a diverse mix of folx in the foreground (ethnic, cultural, racial, religious)...but are any of them Native?
-Metaphor: Two metaphors are used here and loosely tied together - the wind and a garden. The garden comparison is lovely and I wish the author played with that more (individual plants that work symbiotically and cooperatively). But the use of wind strikes me as a passive description to bypass the real forces that caused people to “blow” toward this land, which include persecution, poverty, violence, enslavement, conflict, shortages, etc.
-The Wind: Why is this problematic? The wind “blew in newcomers from all directions. Some came peacefully, and others pushed aside or clashed with the [indigenous] people...” Pushed aside is one whitewashed way to describe colonization and genocide with all its harms. Then the wind blows in “colonists” whose leader “slaughtered the tribe” on that land, boys and men searching for gold who stole food from Native “villagers”, and slave ships with “traders” (TRADERS!) who “forced” (KIDNAPPED) people. Besides the quick references without specificity, what is most egregious is that the wind is the actor, the one to blame, because the wind blew all of this in. That relieves humans of any responsibility for their actions.
-Statue of Liberty: She was erected “ welcoming everyone”. This is also false. Ask any of the passengers on the St. Louis who were turned away to meet their fate under the Nazi regime. Or refugees today.
-“But people, like seeds, take root.” Some do and some are prevented from doing so...ask any undocumented folx, DREAMers, and those pushed out due to gentrification and economic factors.
-Ending: Last couple pages show an idealized view of America currently - we all have memories and pasts, but we have hope for the future. Do we all? Ask a marginalized group how they feel about the past, present, and future. What about the systemic oppression folx live today?
-“They” become “we”: The weight of the implications here are heavy. It smacks of assimilation, gentrification, cultural superiority, homogeneity.
-Garden: It ends with the garden metaphor, “a garden of Americans who turn and face the wind”, forced to tie to the wind.
-Author is a white woman, illustrator is a white woman (born in Russia). Consider the lens they create through and how this story would be different told by BIPOC or other marginalized identity.
-Cover: Something feels off with the tag line “A story of how diversity took root in America”. My gut tells me this sounds like diversity was the goal, not a product of colonization, enslavement, and persecution. Diversity didn’t take “root”, but white supremacy did. The image shows Native folx in the background (some shapeless blobs), white colonizers and refugees in the mid-ground, and a diverse mix of folx in the foreground (ethnic, cultural, racial, religious)...but are any of them Native?
-Metaphor: Two metaphors are used here and loosely tied together - the wind and a garden. The garden comparison is lovely and I wish the author played with that more (individual plants that work symbiotically and cooperatively). But the use of wind strikes me as a passive description to bypass the real forces that caused people to “blow” toward this land, which include persecution, poverty, violence, enslavement, conflict, shortages, etc.
-The Wind: Why is this problematic? The wind “blew in newcomers from all directions. Some came peacefully, and others pushed aside or clashed with the [indigenous] people...” Pushed aside is one whitewashed way to describe colonization and genocide with all its harms. Then the wind blows in “colonists” whose leader “slaughtered the tribe” on that land, boys and men searching for gold who stole food from Native “villagers”, and slave ships with “traders” (TRADERS!) who “forced” (KIDNAPPED) people. Besides the quick references without specificity, what is most egregious is that the wind is the actor, the one to blame, because the wind blew all of this in. That relieves humans of any responsibility for their actions.
-Statue of Liberty: She was erected “ welcoming everyone”. This is also false. Ask any of the passengers on the St. Louis who were turned away to meet their fate under the Nazi regime. Or refugees today.
-“But people, like seeds, take root.” Some do and some are prevented from doing so...ask any undocumented folx, DREAMers, and those pushed out due to gentrification and economic factors.
-Ending: Last couple pages show an idealized view of America currently - we all have memories and pasts, but we have hope for the future. Do we all? Ask a marginalized group how they feel about the past, present, and future. What about the systemic oppression folx live today?
-“They” become “we”: The weight of the implications here are heavy. It smacks of assimilation, gentrification, cultural superiority, homogeneity.
-Garden: It ends with the garden metaphor, “a garden of Americans who turn and face the wind”, forced to tie to the wind.
-Author is a white woman, illustrator is a white woman (born in Russia). Consider the lens they create through and how this story would be different told by BIPOC or other marginalized identity.
January 31, 2022
From all over the world our ancestors have been like seeds planted in the garden that is America. We all have to share this garden with each other; only by sharing can we all grow strong. This book introduces young children to how we all must tend this garden to continue to grow together.
February 2, 2022
No, I have not actually read We Are a Garden: A Story of How Diversity Took Root in America from cover to cover, from beginning to end and I am not planning to do this either. However and in my humble opinion, I also do strongly believe that I have definitely read more than enough often rather intensely cringeworthy and problematic excerpts of author Lisa Westberg Peters’ text online as well as perusing a number of scathingly negative reviews of We Are a Garden: A Story of How Diversity Took Root in America by scholars, by university level academics whom I very highly respect (like for example Debbie Reese) for me to without any feelings of guilt or contrition whatsoever be casting a very annoyed and frustrated one star ranking at We Are a Garden: A Story of How Diversity Took Root in America and also and equally at Lisa Westberg Peters as an author, to let her know in no uncertain terms that she really does need to educate herself regarding the history of the USA and to crush underfoot her both ridiculous and rather frightening rose-coloured eyeglasses (and while I will not actually be talking about Victoria Tentler-Krylov’s accompanying artwork in any amount of detail, as I have not really seen it, the book cover image for We Are a Garden: A Story of How Diversity Took Root in America, it does feel much too aesthetically frenetic to and for my eyes).
I mean, how can We Are a Garden: A Story of How Diversity Took Root in America in any manner be even remotely a positive and an appropriate, an acceptable take on diversity in the USA, when the author, when Lisa Westberg Peters textually makes it appear as though the many settlers to the United States were MOSTLY some kind of strong but still sufficiently gentle and even necessary wind? Because no, Ms. Westberg Peters, for the many Native American tribes (and yes, if I am going to be using your own rather silly wind metaphors), the arrival of wave after wave of mostly European immigrants in what is now the USA was NOT AT ALL an optimistic and hopeful gentle breeze and wind, but rather like massively destructive hurricanes and tornadoes (storms often destroying everything in their paths, destroying cultures and entire populations). And come on, if by 2021, Lisa Westberg Peters still does not know that in particular for Native Americans and for the descendants of African American slaves, American history is generally not at all glorious and more a story of pain, of subjugation, of both cultural and actual genocide, then she really should not be writing for children (for the naive and unacceptable whitewashing of We Are a Garden: A Story of How Diversity Took Root in America is totally and utterly horrid and unacceptable and especially so in a picture book geared towards young children).
I mean, how can We Are a Garden: A Story of How Diversity Took Root in America in any manner be even remotely a positive and an appropriate, an acceptable take on diversity in the USA, when the author, when Lisa Westberg Peters textually makes it appear as though the many settlers to the United States were MOSTLY some kind of strong but still sufficiently gentle and even necessary wind? Because no, Ms. Westberg Peters, for the many Native American tribes (and yes, if I am going to be using your own rather silly wind metaphors), the arrival of wave after wave of mostly European immigrants in what is now the USA was NOT AT ALL an optimistic and hopeful gentle breeze and wind, but rather like massively destructive hurricanes and tornadoes (storms often destroying everything in their paths, destroying cultures and entire populations). And come on, if by 2021, Lisa Westberg Peters still does not know that in particular for Native Americans and for the descendants of African American slaves, American history is generally not at all glorious and more a story of pain, of subjugation, of both cultural and actual genocide, then she really should not be writing for children (for the naive and unacceptable whitewashing of We Are a Garden: A Story of How Diversity Took Root in America is totally and utterly horrid and unacceptable and especially so in a picture book geared towards young children).
April 20, 2022
Maybe you've heard that the United States is a melting pot or tossed salad. How about the United States is a garden? In We are a Garden, the immigration story is presented from the earliest days of people to now.
June 8, 2021
Do not recommend. This book operates on an extended metaphor of a "strong wind" blowing people (like seeds) to a new land, and while it is factually honest about how various groups of people arrived to what is now North America (i.e. people who we would now call Indigenous people arriving "when glaciers still covered the north," White European colonists arriving from the east in search of treasure, enslaved African people arriving on the ships of slavers—though the text itself says "slaves," not "enslaved people"), the extended metaphor has the effect of leveling these distinct—and distinctly unequal—forms of arrival. The atrocities committed by European colonizers were minimized so much as to feel like a lie— for example, writing about what I took to be European colonists in the Virginia colony, Peters writes "When they had trouble growing their own food, they took the food supplies of the [Indigenous] villagers." Writing of Spanish colonizers, she writes that "their brutal leader slaughtered the tribe that was living there," but without context and follow-up, this reads like a one-off event that didn't then extend, throughout time and in various, horrific forms, across the entire continent.
The art in this book is very beautiful, but ultimately this is just another form of a "melting pot" story that, while attempting to more realistically depict the history of U.S. America, doesn't look critically enough at the painful ways its telling re-enacts the same erasures and false equivalencies present in so many other stories of how various groups of people came to live in what is now called the United States.
The art in this book is very beautiful, but ultimately this is just another form of a "melting pot" story that, while attempting to more realistically depict the history of U.S. America, doesn't look critically enough at the painful ways its telling re-enacts the same erasures and false equivalencies present in so many other stories of how various groups of people came to live in what is now called the United States.
September 17, 2021
The author and illustrator of this book use "garden" as a metaphor for the growth of what people know as the United States, but I view their use of it in a different way: With this book, Peters and Tentler-Krylov encourage the growth of a feel-good story that hides the truths of the United States and its history.
The back cover says:
Gosh. The wind did all that? Come on! Was it the wind that invaded and stole Native homelands? No. Was it the wind that captured and enslaved Africans? No!
Look at the subtitle: "A Story of how Diversity Took Root in America." It suggests that there was a place called America and that this book will tell you how it became diverse. Seems ok, but it isn't. Before "America" was known by that name, it was known by other names by the people who were there before those who called it "America."
For more in-depth analysis, see the review at American Indians in Children's Literature.
https://americanindiansinchildrenslit...
The back cover says:
The wind blows in newcomers from all directions. "They" become "we," and we become a garden.
Gosh. The wind did all that? Come on! Was it the wind that invaded and stole Native homelands? No. Was it the wind that captured and enslaved Africans? No!
Look at the subtitle: "A Story of how Diversity Took Root in America." It suggests that there was a place called America and that this book will tell you how it became diverse. Seems ok, but it isn't. Before "America" was known by that name, it was known by other names by the people who were there before those who called it "America."
For more in-depth analysis, see the review at American Indians in Children's Literature.
https://americanindiansinchildrenslit...
December 9, 2021
My rating got lower and lower the more I thought about this. At first I liked that it didn't pull punches about some aspects of American history, but the wind metaphor really really stinks. Yes, talk about enslavement, colonization, and genocide and use those words. But also, it wasn't the wind. Those actions were intentional, systematic, and sanctioned. Couching it in metaphor feels like they're trying to make modern white people feel less bad about the actions of our ancestors and that those actions are entirely in the past.
August 13, 2021
To be as succinct as possible, this feels white-washed.
While it's really difficult to tell these stories in a way that younger kids can really comprehend, I just don't think this book is up to the task. It's written by a white woman, descended from a Norwegian immigrant, and illustrated by a white woman who is an immigrant from Russia. Maybe if she had some additional perspectives and time, Peters could have made this a really powerful book about the history of immigration in North America that would actually accessible to the target age group without depending on this feel-good "seeds blown into the garden" concept, which is just the tired "melting pot" concept with a more poetic twist.
Illustrations are beautiful.
While it's really difficult to tell these stories in a way that younger kids can really comprehend, I just don't think this book is up to the task. It's written by a white woman, descended from a Norwegian immigrant, and illustrated by a white woman who is an immigrant from Russia. Maybe if she had some additional perspectives and time, Peters could have made this a really powerful book about the history of immigration in North America that would actually accessible to the target age group without depending on this feel-good "seeds blown into the garden" concept, which is just the tired "melting pot" concept with a more poetic twist.
Illustrations are beautiful.
xx-dnf-skim-reference
August 29, 2021I will not read this. I excerpt points from a review in progress, posted to a newsletter today, and I trust this reviewer:
---
Reviewer: Debbie Reese
Review Status: Not Recommended
To understand this critique of We Are A Garden: A Story of How Diversity Took Root in America you must begin with, and hold fast to, the fact that Native peoples were nations of peoples before the U.S. was a nation. Our status as nations is why Europeans and (later) leaders of the U.S. made treaties with leaders of Native Nations. If Native Nations were not seen as nations with leaders who could enter into diplomatic negotiations, treaties with us would not exist. But they do exist and they do matter, today. We are sovereign nations. None of that is in We Are A Garden. ...
With this book, Peters and Tentler-Krylov encourage the growth of a feel-good story that hides the truths of the United States and its history.
The back cover says:
'The wind blows in newcomers from all directions.' "They" become "we," and we become a garden.
Gosh. The wind did all that? Come on! Was it the wind that invaded and stole Native homelands? No. Was it the wind that captured and enslaved Africans? No!
Look at the subtitle: "A Story of how Diversity Took Root in America." It suggests that there was a place called America and that this book will tell you how it became diverse. Seems ok, but it isn't. Before "America" was known by that name, it was known by other names by the people who were there before those who called it "America."
This is, unfortunately, a problem I see a lot. There are children's books with "First Americans" in their title/subtitle.... not ok! Native peoples had names for our respective nations (yes, we were nations before the U.S. was a nation) that pre-date "the United States of America." That fact should be common knowledge. ...
August 2021
---
Reviewer: Debbie Reese
Review Status: Not Recommended
To understand this critique of We Are A Garden: A Story of How Diversity Took Root in America you must begin with, and hold fast to, the fact that Native peoples were nations of peoples before the U.S. was a nation. Our status as nations is why Europeans and (later) leaders of the U.S. made treaties with leaders of Native Nations. If Native Nations were not seen as nations with leaders who could enter into diplomatic negotiations, treaties with us would not exist. But they do exist and they do matter, today. We are sovereign nations. None of that is in We Are A Garden. ...
With this book, Peters and Tentler-Krylov encourage the growth of a feel-good story that hides the truths of the United States and its history.
The back cover says:
'The wind blows in newcomers from all directions.' "They" become "we," and we become a garden.
Gosh. The wind did all that? Come on! Was it the wind that invaded and stole Native homelands? No. Was it the wind that captured and enslaved Africans? No!
Look at the subtitle: "A Story of how Diversity Took Root in America." It suggests that there was a place called America and that this book will tell you how it became diverse. Seems ok, but it isn't. Before "America" was known by that name, it was known by other names by the people who were there before those who called it "America."
This is, unfortunately, a problem I see a lot. There are children's books with "First Americans" in their title/subtitle.... not ok! Native peoples had names for our respective nations (yes, we were nations before the U.S. was a nation) that pre-date "the United States of America." That fact should be common knowledge. ...
August 2021
July 22, 2021
This is... not achieving what it wants to achieve. It tries to be lyrical and pretty and uplifting while also trying to be pretty frankly honest about how most groups of people came to what is now the US. I'm just really not sure there's an effective way to do that, given the amount of horrific genocide involved. The extended wind metaphor gets very tired as well until being unceremoniously dropped toward the end for more of a garden metaphor. Overall, this is just unsuccessful.
On a positive note the illustrations are phenomenal.
On a positive note the illustrations are phenomenal.
September 21, 2021
A overview of migration and immigration, honest about the negatives as well, but the metaphor has problems
April 26, 2021
If you want to teach your littles American history, start with this book which details how people came to be in America. It doesn't hold back on the brutal parts but does so in a way that is still palatable for even the youngest kids.
April 30, 2021
The watercolor illustrations are awesomely done and help tell this important story of how our nation is made up of migrants from all around the world. I love the Glossary in the back that has definitions of some of the bigger verbiage as well as the history inserts that give more details about each of the cultures mentioned in the story. I did not get a lyrical feel, though, like Goodreads states, however, that did not take away from the story.
"... people, like seeds, take root. Their roots form a tangled web..."
"... people, like seeds, take root. Their roots form a tangled web..."
May 10, 2021
Beautiful book with lots of important conversation starters about where all of the people in our country came from originally. It's definitely better for an older audience. My 5.5 yo was a little young to grasp all of the topics this hits on. It's an important topic, and I plan to revisit this one in a year or two.
December 29, 2021
Some pretty serious issues (particularly in the first few pages and generalizations about immigrants) despite attempts to tackle some issues well.
January 25, 2022
Super problematic framing.
November 26, 2021
Nope. Cute story. Too bad it's garbage.
Sure it was the benignly random "wind" that blew Christopher Colonizer ashore, but the subsequent history was willful invasion. Nasty weeds and starlings, not a garden.
Why is it, when Europe is written about, authors almost NEVER start with paleolithic migration through the Levant, but when they discuss "America" they ALWAYS start with their bogus "land bridge"? Why are white Americans SO INTENT on minimizing the indigeneity of the people Christopher Colonizer "discovered"? Think about that. Think some more. Think about the illegitimate title to the land your home is built on.
Side note: the illustration of the slave ship looks like a bunch of people on a holiday cruise, enjoying the refreshing sea breeze as they float to the New World.
Children deserve the truth. Maybe not as angry as I would present it, but not the whitewash they get from bad books like this.
Sure it was the benignly random "wind" that blew Christopher Colonizer ashore, but the subsequent history was willful invasion. Nasty weeds and starlings, not a garden.
Why is it, when Europe is written about, authors almost NEVER start with paleolithic migration through the Levant, but when they discuss "America" they ALWAYS start with their bogus "land bridge"? Why are white Americans SO INTENT on minimizing the indigeneity of the people Christopher Colonizer "discovered"? Think about that. Think some more. Think about the illegitimate title to the land your home is built on.
Side note: the illustration of the slave ship looks like a bunch of people on a holiday cruise, enjoying the refreshing sea breeze as they float to the New World.
Children deserve the truth. Maybe not as angry as I would present it, but not the whitewash they get from bad books like this.
December 18, 2021
2.5 Stars I don't even know where to go with this book.
I like the illustrations, and even before reading it I knew there was a controversy around it... so I was braced. It isn't bad and it isn't all that good.
I guess my biggest issue is the Native American portrayal. They have lumped all tribes from many many different distinct unique cultures and way of life into one thing, one nation and one people. UM Not so much!
Don't put a Navajo and a Shoshone in the same basket. Two different tribes traditions and customs.
IN the United States alone (not counting Mexico or Canada) has 574 federally recognized tribes. (While I am on a rant, why aren't Hawaiian given native status.... seriously.......???) Canada has 50 recognized tribes of First Nation People. 50 different tribes...
Like saying all white people are from England, when they could be from Scandinavia, Russia, Italy, Albania. Call an Italian, British and see how long your teeth stay in your mouth!
It also assumes the North American Continent as America has always been it name.
I went to a library conference ARSL. The whole conference was about inclusive, even with diversity of race, religion, sexual orientation, we are all human.
There were about 500 people there and they asked us instead of where we were from (Utah, Wyoming , New Hampshire etc) we were to say whose native land we live on.
I said Ute. I live on Ute land, I claim in now in ownership in my Anglo Saxon way, but it was stolen/ taken from the Utes. And we pushed them into a reservation... I can't pay for the sins of my fathers, but...I don't have to be happy with them.
Also, it doesn't wrap things how are we all connected! Because we live in the same place? OOO KAY!
All in all, I am going to say "Good try" maybe try again!
But is it more important on how everyone got here, or that we all are here now. Can't we just be humans....distinct and wonderful, but humans.
I am not sure when you get a blood transfusion if the blood is from a White person or it is from an Asian, African American etc. No, it is the blood type that matters... you need the right blood.. I am AB+ a rare blood type and I don't care what race my blood came from, they saved my life and that is all that matters to me!! I am the universal receiver of all types but not everyone can take my blood type. We are all humans! Case closed! Game over!
I like the illustrations, and even before reading it I knew there was a controversy around it... so I was braced. It isn't bad and it isn't all that good.
I guess my biggest issue is the Native American portrayal. They have lumped all tribes from many many different distinct unique cultures and way of life into one thing, one nation and one people. UM Not so much!
Don't put a Navajo and a Shoshone in the same basket. Two different tribes traditions and customs.
IN the United States alone (not counting Mexico or Canada) has 574 federally recognized tribes. (While I am on a rant, why aren't Hawaiian given native status.... seriously.......???) Canada has 50 recognized tribes of First Nation People. 50 different tribes...
Like saying all white people are from England, when they could be from Scandinavia, Russia, Italy, Albania. Call an Italian, British and see how long your teeth stay in your mouth!
It also assumes the North American Continent as America has always been it name.
I went to a library conference ARSL. The whole conference was about inclusive, even with diversity of race, religion, sexual orientation, we are all human.
There were about 500 people there and they asked us instead of where we were from (Utah, Wyoming , New Hampshire etc) we were to say whose native land we live on.
I said Ute. I live on Ute land, I claim in now in ownership in my Anglo Saxon way, but it was stolen/ taken from the Utes. And we pushed them into a reservation... I can't pay for the sins of my fathers, but...I don't have to be happy with them.
Also, it doesn't wrap things how are we all connected! Because we live in the same place? OOO KAY!
All in all, I am going to say "Good try" maybe try again!
But is it more important on how everyone got here, or that we all are here now. Can't we just be humans....distinct and wonderful, but humans.
I am not sure when you get a blood transfusion if the blood is from a White person or it is from an Asian, African American etc. No, it is the blood type that matters... you need the right blood.. I am AB+ a rare blood type and I don't care what race my blood came from, they saved my life and that is all that matters to me!! I am the universal receiver of all types but not everyone can take my blood type. We are all humans! Case closed! Game over!
April 9, 2021
Watercolor and digital illustrations complement poetic text describing how North America came to be populated. The text and images make it clear that it was "a strong wind" that prompted much of this migration as some individuals crossed an icy land bridge and chose to stay while others moved southward. It is clear that there has always been disagreement about the land and resources as some of the newcomers took advantage of those who were already here and many came unwillingly, cargo in the bowels of huge ships. Page by page, the book covers some of the more unsavory parts of our nation's history, including the Chinese exclusion act and treatment of braceros from Mexico. The final scenes depict the various individuals who have come to this country for many different reasons, adding their own unique contributions to their new home just as those who preceded them did. The valuable back matter explains the contents of each page so that readers realize that we are unequivocally a nation of immigrants, our foremothers and forefathers having moved from other places long ago or even as recently as yesterday. This picture book's contents are relevant and moving and beg the question about how a nation decides whom to admit and whom to deny admission as well as how to keep that garden flourishing. Because many seeds are sown by the wind, the title for this picture book is fitting. The book itself would fit well in a thematic unit or series of lessons on immigration.
June 29, 2021
A visually stunning look at how migrating groups throughout millennia created the diverse population of America. Using the wind as a metaphor, the author describes how different winds “… blew people, like seeds, to a new land” and how they impacted one another – “Some came peacefully, and others pushed aside or clashed with the people who had called the land home …” Readers will come away with a sense that just about everybody in this country came from somewhere else, whether purposefully or by force.
The text, descriptive poetic prose, is complemented nicely by the watercolor illustrations, which have a retro feel. The illustrator does a fine job of portraying different ethnic groups with integrity.
Back matter explains, by page number, which groups are referenced in the text and illustrations, with more information about how they were treated by those who came before them, including: The First People; Arctic People; Apache and Navaho people; Spanish and British colonizers; enslaved Africans; European, Chinese and Mexican immigrants; and contemporary immigrants. There is also a glossary and a list of sources. I love the idea of the U.S. as a “garden” of diversity – it’s an admirable way to simplify a complicated concept.
Young readers will need a guide to explain how some groups exploited others, and that the “winds” that brought certain groups here caused the annihilation of others. The metaphor is beautifully poetic, but may cause confusion.
The text, descriptive poetic prose, is complemented nicely by the watercolor illustrations, which have a retro feel. The illustrator does a fine job of portraying different ethnic groups with integrity.
Back matter explains, by page number, which groups are referenced in the text and illustrations, with more information about how they were treated by those who came before them, including: The First People; Arctic People; Apache and Navaho people; Spanish and British colonizers; enslaved Africans; European, Chinese and Mexican immigrants; and contemporary immigrants. There is also a glossary and a list of sources. I love the idea of the U.S. as a “garden” of diversity – it’s an admirable way to simplify a complicated concept.
Young readers will need a guide to explain how some groups exploited others, and that the “winds” that brought certain groups here caused the annihilation of others. The metaphor is beautifully poetic, but may cause confusion.
December 11, 2024
I used this book for a Family Culture Night, where I hosted a table for the library, featuring different diverse books through culture, race, family, practices and beliefs, and so much more, even including neurodivergence, mixed identities, refugees, immigrants, and more. I like the idea and concept of this book more than the actual execution of it. I like the concept that we are all uniquely diverse and help to make up the whole of America. However, the poetic structure of this story takes away a lot of the acknowledgement, responsibility, and wrong-doing that America had in its history. The concept that diversity "took root" in America is actually wrong. America was diverse before it was America, and it's actually the colonization and patriotism of America that has made it less diverse. I think with some restructuring, inclusion, and acknowledgement added to this book, it could be a great idea. However, I feel like with awareness of that, this falls short of what I wanted and expected.
July 30, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this book and I read some other reviews to see what other people said. That didn't really help my mixed feelings because I agree with some of the positive reviews and some of the negative reviews.
I think it's good that this book explains a little about how everyone migrated here (to America) at some point, whether it was recent or not. The book does show how terrible things were done to people (whether the people who were already living in areas and were killed or pushed out or the people who were kidnapped and enslaved). But I think it was a little too flippant in some ways. As another reviewer said, when talking about the Spanish leader who killed the Native people, the text made it sound like a one time thing.
I don't know. I think this book could definitely be a good starting point for a discussion about how history and future but it's definitely not perfect.
I think it's good that this book explains a little about how everyone migrated here (to America) at some point, whether it was recent or not. The book does show how terrible things were done to people (whether the people who were already living in areas and were killed or pushed out or the people who were kidnapped and enslaved). But I think it was a little too flippant in some ways. As another reviewer said, when talking about the Spanish leader who killed the Native people, the text made it sound like a one time thing.
I don't know. I think this book could definitely be a good starting point for a discussion about how history and future but it's definitely not perfect.
April 9, 2023
So here's my thing. I loved the illustrations in this book and the title, but this is a complex issue and I'm not entirely sure it will resonate correctly with its audience. The author uses two metaphors about how all people were blown on the wind to America, like seeds that took root. Well, sure, kind of not really. I see where they were going with that metaphor, but it felt like a happy wind blew slaves in, and that doesn't seem to work well for me. I don't think it was the author's intention. I did appreciate the different periods of history that it tackles, from the ice age to slavery, to various backgrounds of Mexicans and Asians, etc., to the current migration. Again, the illustrations were outstanding! The messaging just felt off. It wasn't terrible, but I think it would take a lot more explaining to explain this story to children to help them understand the severity and implications this book trying to express. My rating - 3/5
July 28, 2021
Summary: This book is problematic, but it attempts to provide a more accurate understanding of the colonization of North America.
Cons: There is a common statement that runs through every example in the book -- the wind blows in. While this simile fits for some of the examples, such as the first indigenous people coming to the continent, it does not fit for slavery or the Asian workers who built the railroads. The book also gives the same treatment to slavery as it does to people who chose to come to North America.
Pros: This book could be used as an opening to deeper dialogue with students about American history. It feels like a compromise between a wholly accurate historical account and the whitewashed history that has typically been presented to students through textbooks and traditional education.
Cons: There is a common statement that runs through every example in the book -- the wind blows in. While this simile fits for some of the examples, such as the first indigenous people coming to the continent, it does not fit for slavery or the Asian workers who built the railroads. The book also gives the same treatment to slavery as it does to people who chose to come to North America.
Pros: This book could be used as an opening to deeper dialogue with students about American history. It feels like a compromise between a wholly accurate historical account and the whitewashed history that has typically been presented to students through textbooks and traditional education.
June 8, 2022
Nope. Cute story. Too bad it's garbage.
Sure it was the benignly random "wind" that blew Christopher Colonizer ashore, but the subsequent history was willful invasion. Nasty invasive weeds, not a garden.
Why is it, when Europe is written about, authors almost NEVER start with paleolithic migration through the Levant, but when they discuss "America" they ALWAYS start with their bogus "land bridge"? Why are white Americans SO INTENT on minimizing the indigeneity of the people Christopher Colonizer "discovered"?
Think about that.
Think some more.
Think about the illegitimate title to the land your home is built on.
It's not an accident that the story is misrepresented, your country is built on lies.
Children deserve the truth. Maybe not as angry as I would present it, but not the whitewash they get from bad books like this.
Sure it was the benignly random "wind" that blew Christopher Colonizer ashore, but the subsequent history was willful invasion. Nasty invasive weeds, not a garden.
Why is it, when Europe is written about, authors almost NEVER start with paleolithic migration through the Levant, but when they discuss "America" they ALWAYS start with their bogus "land bridge"? Why are white Americans SO INTENT on minimizing the indigeneity of the people Christopher Colonizer "discovered"?
Think about that.
Think some more.
Think about the illegitimate title to the land your home is built on.
It's not an accident that the story is misrepresented, your country is built on lies.
Children deserve the truth. Maybe not as angry as I would present it, but not the whitewash they get from bad books like this.
September 18, 2021
Author uses metaphor of wind to talk about how different people from the four corners of the globe and throughout the ages have been blown to America. Reasons vary. Sometimes they were fleeing rocky soil and hard times. Sometimes that’s exactly what they found here. Wind may be too passive, takes blame away from humans who did very inhumane things to others. But I think it works as a way to introduce young readers to the idea that everyone comes from somewhere else if you go back far enough. Hopeful tone at end when author talks about “they” becoming “we” and how our memories and hopes for the future mingle in the air. Includes back matter that gives a little more history about the immigration experiences of each group depicted on the spread. Moved to 3 stars after reading some other people’s reviews. Some have serious issues w this book that are worth being aware of and reflecting on
February 28, 2022
This is a gorgeous and important book written by a Minnesota author! An excellent book to start a conversation about immigration from the very beginning of human history in the US to the present day. There are some difficult topics (slavery, famine, killing) so know your reader's sensitivities before reading this book, but once they are ready this is a gentle way to begin to expose your child to these topics. This book also includes the beautiful words that are engraved on the Statue of Liberty that made for a good conversation on ideals vs. reality (what this message offers to people what our immigration policies offer to people). This is a book I would happily have in my home library.
July 11, 2021
This book is an attempt to introduce and explain the origins of the diversity in America. Some parts are not perfect and the author does give a little bit of a polish to less than exceptional moments in US history. I think it would’ve been difficult to include all of the nuance and to explain the atrocious aspects of history all within a single book aimed at elementary aged children. Not that I think they should be shielded from those things at all. There are more full explanations in the back matter, and hopefully adults are using that to guide conversations. The metaphors of wind spreading seeds and growing plants taking root was a little too flowery for the subject matter for me.
August 11, 2021
Beautifully illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov, Peters presents a layered tale of the many different groups that have come together to create the US garden of diversity. Beginning with indigenous peoples and moving through those who were came to what would become the United States both involuntarily and voluntarily, she creates a sense of how are diversity came to be. There is only a small description of each group in the book but some added information in the end notes with additional references. It would be a good resource to introduce the topic and help learners do deeper dives into each other groups presented.
March 25, 2022
I had high hopes for this book, but it sadly didn’t live up to them. I will say that there illustrations are the star here - I would love some of these as a wordless book to invite conversation (although there would need to be additions).
Two of my big obstacles with this book are the mixing of the wind and the garden metaphor. The former feels overly repeated and read as if it was absolving groups of their actions, the latter isn’t explored enough.
Many things about this also feel whitewashed, especially towards the end.
I hate leaving poor reviews, but I just wouldn’t recommend this one.
Two of my big obstacles with this book are the mixing of the wind and the garden metaphor. The former feels overly repeated and read as if it was absolving groups of their actions, the latter isn’t explored enough.
Many things about this also feel whitewashed, especially towards the end.
I hate leaving poor reviews, but I just wouldn’t recommend this one.
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