Grandpa’s Too-Good Garden by James Stevenson
Author’s Website: James Stevenson @ Harper Collins
Published: August 1989
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Ages 5-8
ISBN: 9780688084868
Barnes & Noble Hardcover
Amazon Paperback
Where we got the book: Our public library
Overview: Some kids are planting a garden when their grandpa stops by and tells a story of when he grew a “too-good” garden, which had some surprises along the way.
Mommy Bookworm’s Thoughts: This was a very cute story that I could easily picture a grandpa telling! It is definitely a book to just relax and have fun with. The illustrations are wonderful. I love butterflies, so I especially like the page full of butterflies! I believe it is appropriate for the age range noted. Although it’s a fun story, I don’t think younger kids (under 5) would really appreciate it because it is set up like a comic book with different squares you have to read from, which I think they could kind of get lost in while looking at the pictures. It’s a great book for the 5-8 age range though, and I think even some older kids could get some good practice following the dialogue with this book.
Dahlia Bookworm’s Thoughts (11 years old): I really liked the book because it was funny. It was funny because when the dad dropped the miracle-grow hair gel on the ground, the garden got huge. I can easily read the book and would recommend it to kids my age and younger kids too.
Daisy Bookworm’s Thoughts (7 years old): I like the giant garden too. I like how the caterpillars ate all the vegetables and there was nothing left in the garden. I think I could read it with a little help. I would recommend it to other kids my age and older.
