The Little Gardener: Helping Children Connect with the Natural World

Gardener and debut author Cerny advocates for “ecological literacy” in this appealing guide for adults trying to interest children in gardening. “If we don’t understand where natural resources come from, how can we ensure they will always be there for us?” Cerny asks. Her curriculum for remedying this defect covers designing, planting, and maintaining a garden, concentrating on ways to “garden like nature” (such as “companion planting, which simply means planting two or more species of plants close together to benefit at least one of them”) and feel more connected to the land. Very much following a textbook model, Cerny creates detailed plans for learning activities, chapter reviews, and previews of each upcoming lesson. Her easy-to-follow explanations of such topics as ecosystems and soil erosion (“losing soil faster than nature can replenish it”) should be illuminating for adults as well as kids. In addition to horticultural info, Cerny also dispenses some pointers on working with children with different learning styles. This informative and helpful primer will help grown-up gardeners inculcate a lifelong love of the natural world in young minds. With color illus. by Ysemay Dercon. (Mar.)