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

Inspired by the Soo Line Community Garden in Minneapolis, where Mullen has gardened for years, her debut employs a counting framing device paired with a refrain of “hungry honeybees buzz...” to share a community garden’s origin story. A chance visit by passersby (“two helping hands”) galvanizes a neighborhood into cleaning up “one little” abandoned lot. Step by step, the group installs raised beds “in a straight, lovely line,” plants “six plentiful seed packets,” and harvests “nine prized plants,” including bok choy, cucumbers, and kittley. “One little lot is full of delicious!” reads the penultimate spread, which portrays a bustling community dinner. Webcomic-style characters appear diverse, and Vidal’s intricate digital and mixed-media backdrops and aerial shots, representing the honeybees’ point of view, offer the small garden a warmly expansive feel. Back matter includes an author’s note, facts about honeybees, and steps to improve one’s own garden for bees. Ages 3–7. [em](Mar.) [/em]