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Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots: Gardening Together with Children
Pizza Patches & Bean Kids' Garden Projects to Cultivate Wonder
Here are 12 spirited, easy-to-implement ideas for theme gardens that parents and kids can grow together, connecting children to nature through gardening. Each project includes a plan and the planting recipe--as well as a "Discovery Walk," activities and crafts to make with what you grow. And each is illustrated with author Sharon Lovejoy's lyrical watercolors.
There's the Pizza Patch, a giant-size wheel garden planted in "slices" of tomatoes, zucchini, oregano, and basil. A Flowery Maze to get lost in. A Moon Garden of night-blooming flowers, including a moonflower tent. And Mother Nature's Medicine Chest.
Discovery Walks teach kids how the gardens work, and a chapter on gardening basics includes a child-friendly 10-Minute Plan for planting and maintenance, plus a list of the top 20 plants guaranteed to make gardeners out of kids.
Here are 12 spirited, easy-to-implement ideas for theme gardens that parents and kids can grow together, connecting children to nature through gardening. Each project includes a plan and the planting recipe--as well as a "Discovery Walk," activities and crafts to make with what you grow. And each is illustrated with author Sharon Lovejoy's lyrical watercolors.
There's the Pizza Patch, a giant-size wheel garden planted in "slices" of tomatoes, zucchini, oregano, and basil. A Flowery Maze to get lost in. A Moon Garden of night-blooming flowers, including a moonflower tent. And Mother Nature's Medicine Chest.
Discovery Walks teach kids how the gardens work, and a chapter on gardening basics includes a child-friendly 10-Minute Plan for planting and maintenance, plus a list of the top 20 plants guaranteed to make gardeners out of kids.
176 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1999
34 people are currently reading
1217 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Lovejoy
18 books60 followersNaturalist, author, and illustrator Sharon Lovejoy’s passion for nature led her to a lifetime of cultivating wonder for grown-ups and children. Her honors include the National Outdoor Book Award for Children’s Literature, 2010 Gold Award from National Parenting Publications, the key to the city of Indianapolis for her work with youth, numerous Garden Writer’s Association awards, and one of the Best Chapter Books Pick by the International Reading Association for her novel Running Out of Night.
As a graduate with Distinction in Art from San Diego State University, Sharon successfully combined her training in art with her love of botany, natural science and history. She worked as a docent naturalist for the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History and for the Smithsonian Institution in the lagoons of Baja, California. Sharon founded Heart's Ease Herb Shop & Gardens in Cambria, California, which gained international acclaim and was featured in numerous books, magazines, and newspapers throughout the world.
Sharon has lectured throughout the United States for over twenty years. She speaks at conferences, educational symposia, museums, botanic gardens, arboreta, and for professional trade associations, libraries, schools, STEM, universities, and gardening organizations.
For 13 years she wrote an award winning column for Country Living GARDENER magazine that was distributed through Canada by The New York Times Syndicate. Sharon is past President of the International Herb Association. She served on the Youth Garden Advisory Panel for the American Horticultural Society and the Advisory Board of KidsGardening.org. Her other professional affiliations include Garden Writers Association, The Authors Guild, Inc., Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, and Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
As a graduate with Distinction in Art from San Diego State University, Sharon successfully combined her training in art with her love of botany, natural science and history. She worked as a docent naturalist for the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History and for the Smithsonian Institution in the lagoons of Baja, California. Sharon founded Heart's Ease Herb Shop & Gardens in Cambria, California, which gained international acclaim and was featured in numerous books, magazines, and newspapers throughout the world.
Sharon has lectured throughout the United States for over twenty years. She speaks at conferences, educational symposia, museums, botanic gardens, arboreta, and for professional trade associations, libraries, schools, STEM, universities, and gardening organizations.
For 13 years she wrote an award winning column for Country Living GARDENER magazine that was distributed through Canada by The New York Times Syndicate. Sharon is past President of the International Herb Association. She served on the Youth Garden Advisory Panel for the American Horticultural Society and the Advisory Board of KidsGardening.org. Her other professional affiliations include Garden Writers Association, The Authors Guild, Inc., Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, and Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
January 14, 2024
Want to start a garden with your kiddos? I’d say this is a pretty good book to begin with! There are sections on recommended hardy plants, various gardens to grow (like the Pizza Patch or The Snacking and Sipping Garden), forts/teepees for your children to hideaway in by growing sunflowers or hollyhocks or morning glories, using assorted planters, many activities and even a few recipes.
The pages are so charming - I love the vibrant colors and drawings throughout. The book is formatted nicely too; not cluttered or busy like some books, where your eye doesn’t know where to land.
All garden ideas come with a clear list of ingredients/tools and the step by step to bring about a neat area and healthy plants.
Ages: 4+
Content Considerations: mentions Mother Earth/Mother Nature a couple of times.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
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The pages are so charming - I love the vibrant colors and drawings throughout. The book is formatted nicely too; not cluttered or busy like some books, where your eye doesn’t know where to land.
All garden ideas come with a clear list of ingredients/tools and the step by step to bring about a neat area and healthy plants.
Ages: 4+
Content Considerations: mentions Mother Earth/Mother Nature a couple of times.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
June 14, 2021
What a delight! This guidebook to gardening is filled with colourful illustrations, lots of information and fascinating ideas for themed plots, planters and activities for parents and kids to do together. For example, create a pizza patch in the shape of a pizza pie, with garden “slices” for herbs, vegetables and tomatoes. The book even includes directions for a harvest pizza party and a recipe for dough.
There is a lot of trivia and enthusiasm here: from bees and bugs to how to create carrot people. Although this is clearly not designed for a Western Canada climate, it certainly makes the concept of a garden more fun and less daunting for novice gardeners looking for inspiration. Not sure it will transform my black thumb, but it’s a whole bunch of intellectual mulch to make the process less disheartening.
There is a lot of trivia and enthusiasm here: from bees and bugs to how to create carrot people. Although this is clearly not designed for a Western Canada climate, it certainly makes the concept of a garden more fun and less daunting for novice gardeners looking for inspiration. Not sure it will transform my black thumb, but it’s a whole bunch of intellectual mulch to make the process less disheartening.
February 3, 2023
I loved this book. Despite a growing interest in gardening that has lasted years, it has never once occurred to me to have a children's garden, specifically for their use and enjoyment, separate from the adult or family garden. I so appreciated the author's many years of personal experience specifically with gardens and children together. It made everything seem so much more doable and exciting, and helped take away some of the apprehension I felt. I especially loved her ideas for a sunflower house and moon garden, and my children loved going through her first chapter, "Top 20 Plants for Kids," and picking out ones they wanted to try out. Highly recommend.
April 6, 2024
This is the most delightful book about gardening I’ve ever read! It was full of ideas that were both insightful and whimsical! Adults and children alike will be inspired to experiment and enjoy the wonders of a home garden after reading this. It is one I want to have a permanent place on my bookshelf!
February 23, 2022
The happiest little book! Nine practical and detailed garden plans/layouts plus lots of other creative ideas for gardening with young children (sunflower house, bean pole teepee, moon garden, pizza garden, etc.) Loved the whimsical illustrations and poems throughout.
March 10, 2012
This is a lovely, magical book with delightful illustrations and fantastic ideas. The problem is that most of the plans are large scale (like creating a sunflower house on a 10x10 ft plot). There are a few container garden ideas, but these occupy a fraction of the book. Lovejoy also offers some creative follow-up projects with the harvest, like making sunflower wreaths or birdhouses from dried gourds. A few of these I'll try, the rest of the book was too complicated and unrealistic, unless one has considerable talent and ambition.
April 5, 2008
Oh, how I love this book! Sweet projects, fun illustrations, sidebars and trivia, tidbits and kid-friendly suggestions. I'm going to plant a sunflower house in the front yard this summer, and expand the edible garden by putting beans in the front yard where we have a chain link fence, just because. Never considered growing gourds before, but just might for crafting. I learned a few herbal recipes that were new to me. I could hug this book. Thanks Sarah!
April 20, 2009
Now that i have a little guy and the weather is warming, I have really gotten excited about spending time outside and discovering the world with John. I cant wait to watch bugs and play in the garden. This book has a lot of fun ideas of gardening with kids. There are a ton of garden layouts and plants to choose from.
I cant wait to plant some bean teepees and see john playing in them.
I cant wait to plant some bean teepees and see john playing in them.
August 25, 2012
What a DARLING, DARLING, DARLING book for children about gardening!
The pages were split into two columns full of great information, lot's of beautiful illustrations, and fun little facts thrown on each page. If there is any book that is fun for adults, gets children excited to garden this is the book to read, and together. This is a book that I would buy for sure!
The pages were split into two columns full of great information, lot's of beautiful illustrations, and fun little facts thrown on each page. If there is any book that is fun for adults, gets children excited to garden this is the book to read, and together. This is a book that I would buy for sure!
December 23, 2008
One of the most whimsical and delightful gardening books for children! Lovejoy stimulates the imagination of both the young and old and make all want to dig in! A must read for anyone that wants to spread the love of gardening to children.
January 6, 2023
This is a great resource for children's gardens. I have read it a few times and have tried 2-4 ideas out from it. Great for kids who like plants, and for adults who like to garden with them. :) Sunflower house, Giants Garden, and so much more.
May 25, 2016
Awesome ideas and inspiration
February 24, 2018
So cute, great ideas for young and young at heart! I will be planting my sunflower house soon 😉
May 28, 2017
A primer on gardening with kids!
Nine themed gardens to plant with your children, including a circular pizza garden (sectioned into slices, of course), a "snacking and sipping" garden, a moon garden, a garden of giants, and more! For each garden, she includes specific measurements, plant lists, and even recipes or craft projects to do along with the theme. She also includes a chapter on Top 20 Plants for Kids, a section on gardening basics, and a Resources list for ordering supplies.
The themed gardens all require quite a bit of space, but that's the beauty of the Top 20 Plants list. If you don't have much room, but still want to put in a few things for the kiddos, turn to the list. You will find not only vegetables, but also plants to touch and smell and taste, along with plants that have flowers or seedpods or other features just right for kid craft projects or fairy houses.
Come on over to my blog for more gardening and more book reviews! www.ofbooksandblooms.com
Nine themed gardens to plant with your children, including a circular pizza garden (sectioned into slices, of course), a "snacking and sipping" garden, a moon garden, a garden of giants, and more! For each garden, she includes specific measurements, plant lists, and even recipes or craft projects to do along with the theme. She also includes a chapter on Top 20 Plants for Kids, a section on gardening basics, and a Resources list for ordering supplies.
The themed gardens all require quite a bit of space, but that's the beauty of the Top 20 Plants list. If you don't have much room, but still want to put in a few things for the kiddos, turn to the list. You will find not only vegetables, but also plants to touch and smell and taste, along with plants that have flowers or seedpods or other features just right for kid craft projects or fairy houses.
Come on over to my blog for more gardening and more book reviews! www.ofbooksandblooms.com
April 8, 2023
This was a really cute book with lots of quirky, fun themed gardens. It was a super easy read and is getting me excited to plant my garden this year. The only thing I didn't like was that most of the ideas take up a lot of space. Most ideas require a 12'x12' to 15'x15' plot of land to implement. There is one chapter on container gardening that had some ideas that were actually doable for our family. A lot of the larger garden ideas require kind of elaborate designs. I would have loved some smaller themed vegetable garden ideas or ideas for small flowerbeds. Making a 15'x15' sunflower house, a giant shamrock shaped garden, or a flower maze is a little daunting for a mom with 3 kids and not a lot of time. I would have appreciated examples of more simple, yet fun gardens. I really enjoyed the chapter on the top 20 plants for kids.
February 7, 2023
LOVED IT! 💕 I don't even like going outside, but this book made me want to roll up my sleeves and plant everything the author talked about. Her descriptive language reminded me of reading L.M. Montgomery and her passion really shows through the text.
The fact that this is geared towards kids is irrelevant. This is for everyone who was ever a child. Pizza garden? Yes! Sunflower and morning glory fort? Yes! Magical moon gardens? Yes! From planting flowers in boots to an entire flower maze, there is everything beautiful about gardening in this book.
I borrowed this from my library, but will definitely be getting this for my shelves.
The fact that this is geared towards kids is irrelevant. This is for everyone who was ever a child. Pizza garden? Yes! Sunflower and morning glory fort? Yes! Magical moon gardens? Yes! From planting flowers in boots to an entire flower maze, there is everything beautiful about gardening in this book.
I borrowed this from my library, but will definitely be getting this for my shelves.
August 7, 2025
4.5 ⭐️s rounded up
Great book about gardening with children — specifically inspiring children to love gardening. There is a section on gardening basics and a chapter on the top 20 plants for kids to grow, but the bulk of the book includes individual chapters on theme gardens. For example, a pizza patch garden where you grow ingredients to make pizza. Or a moon garden where the plants bloom at nighttime. Each themed chapter has detailed instructions, lots of charming illustrations, and plenty of activities to do.
The main downside is that most of the theme gardens suggest an area of at least 10ftx10ft, which we just don’t have space for. However, I do still think the info is useful and I will be able to modify some ideas in the book given the space we do have.
Great book about gardening with children — specifically inspiring children to love gardening. There is a section on gardening basics and a chapter on the top 20 plants for kids to grow, but the bulk of the book includes individual chapters on theme gardens. For example, a pizza patch garden where you grow ingredients to make pizza. Or a moon garden where the plants bloom at nighttime. Each themed chapter has detailed instructions, lots of charming illustrations, and plenty of activities to do.
The main downside is that most of the theme gardens suggest an area of at least 10ftx10ft, which we just don’t have space for. However, I do still think the info is useful and I will be able to modify some ideas in the book given the space we do have.
June 4, 2023
The author, Sharon Lovejoy, is a complete treasure! Her knowledge and creativity is unmatched. I adored her simple creative projects in this book. As a first time gardener with small kids with no knowledge whatsoever, this book is such an asset and makes things seem so attainable. It is very well laid out in simplistic terms, and beautifully illustrated by hand by the author. It is magical. Even the word choice is adorable and intentional…”cuddle the herbs, onions, and garlic together in one slice on the south side..”
I am so happy I purchased this book. It will be something I refer back to, has been a delight to read, and awakened curiosity for the craft of gardening.
I am so happy I purchased this book. It will be something I refer back to, has been a delight to read, and awakened curiosity for the craft of gardening.
January 24, 2019
Good and very inspiring. The only two drawbacks for me were that 1) the plants and ideas are better for temperate climates, not hot south Florida, and 2) from experience, I know this would take a lot of dedication or all you end up with is a big mess. I still want to get back to gardening with our children again, but I have to be careful to not do more than we can manage on a regular basis. That said, it is super inspiring for when you have grandchildren... what a peaceful way to connect with them.
March 31, 2022
I’ve been thumbing my way through this playful and engaging gardening book geared towards parents with small children.
I don’t live in a space where we can do much besides container gardening but this lightens my heart with the hope of “someday gardens” with my children.
Ideas for a pizza topping themed garden, a moon garden, a sunflower house, and more seem achievable with the practical set up and explanations in this book.
Highly recommended for families with young children anxious to have green thumbs.
I don’t live in a space where we can do much besides container gardening but this lightens my heart with the hope of “someday gardens” with my children.
Ideas for a pizza topping themed garden, a moon garden, a sunflower house, and more seem achievable with the practical set up and explanations in this book.
Highly recommended for families with young children anxious to have green thumbs.
April 10, 2022
The illustrations are adorable! They almost scared me off because I don't tend to enjoy illustrated books that aren't children's picture books, but these were clear and enhanced, rather than distracted from, the information being presented. There was so much good information and fun ideas in this book. The only thing I would take even a half star away for is the sheer scale of some of the ideas. An 18 x 18 foot garden plan is pretty ambitious for a lot of people gardening with kids! This is one book I'd love to have on my shelf, just to remind me to keep the joy and adventure in gardening.
skimmed
January 20, 2024Written from a naturalist's perspective. This is less practical than some of the other 'gardening with kids' books I've read: it's illustrated with watercolors instead of photos; the text is not quick-to-scan; and most of the gardens are huge undertakings (e.g., start by clearing a 10'x10'+ space). While there aren't as many projects here as in similar books, each of the 12 projects goes into great depth -- planning, explorations, & related activities. A lovely idea of a book... just not the most parent-of-small-children friendly.
June 4, 2024
A fun read, but not especially helpful if your garden lacks a 20' x 20' of sunny space. The author is very creative, and she loves kelp and fish emulsions as fertilizer.
I really liked her section on the 20 best plants for kids and her activities for each type of garden. Having a garden party where everybody makes pizza art WOULD be very fun. It would also be so cool to make a house out of sunflowers and morning glories.
I really liked her section on the 20 best plants for kids and her activities for each type of garden. Having a garden party where everybody makes pizza art WOULD be very fun. It would also be so cool to make a house out of sunflowers and morning glories.
June 7, 2020
Adorable illustrated book about gardening with children. The book presents plants that are great for children, as well as themed gardens and gardening activities. My only complaint that some of the gardens require *huge* blocks of land (50-, 100-, 225-square feet); I would love to see more ways to make good use of small spaces.
June 20, 2025
This is a fun book—though it maybe a bit more aspirational than practical for most families. Most of the garden designs would take more space and/or time than we have available, but it would be interesting to try some of the plant combinations in a different layout, and the planting tips seem useful as well.
May 2, 2022
Lots of great ideas and fun things for kids—mazes, pizza topping, sunflower house etc.. My favorite chapter is the top 20 things to grow.
I wish there was a chapter for small city garden plots—or specifically container gardens but loved the illustrations.
I wish there was a chapter for small city garden plots—or specifically container gardens but loved the illustrations.
July 28, 2023
I was told that this is more of a reference book and had some ideas to flip through and ended up reading straight through and loving it. The artwork is so charming and the ideas made me excited to keep gardening and involve my kiddo as he gets older.
May 18, 2025
Cute gardening book I found in the children's section at our local library. Not really one for the kids, but for folks gardening with kids. Lots of resources and ideas for making fun, themed gardens with your children, grandchildren, students, or even the neighbor's kids that you babysit!
June 19, 2025
https://lunawings.blogspot.com/2012/0...
Sharon Lovejoy's inspiring book was such a wonderful resource when I first bought it in 1999 or 2000 that I had to buy it again for Michelle and Kevin's daughter Josie's 2nd birthday!!
Sharon Lovejoy's inspiring book was such a wonderful resource when I first bought it in 1999 or 2000 that I had to buy it again for Michelle and Kevin's daughter Josie's 2nd birthday!!
May 14, 2017
Fun read with lots of great ideas!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews