PPBF – A Garden Called Home

It may be hot outside for some of us, so what better way to cool down than reading a Perfect Picture Book that transports us into nature.

Title: A Garden Called Home

Written By: Jessica J. Lee

Illustrated By: Elaine Chen

Publisher/Date: Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House/2024

Suitable for Ages: 4-8, and older

Themes/Topics: gardening, immigrant, adopted country, nature, cold weather climate

Opening:

Winter is arriving. The air has turned clear and cold, and the trees have lost their leaves. White snow is falling in sticky bunches. The snowflakes fizz and dissolve when I catch them on my tongue.

Brief Synopsis: After visiting Taiwan, her mother’s native land, with her, a young girl shows her mother that nature at home in a cold-weather climate can be wonderful, too.

Links to Resources:

·      Take a walk to discover the trees, bushes, and other plants that flourish near your home;

·      Learn more about nature and gardening with these Educator Resources listed by the American Horticultural Society.

Why I Like this Book:

In this charming picture book, the young narrator loves being outside in nature, even in the wintertime. But her Mama grew up in Taiwan, a country where it was always green and warm, so she bundles up and stays inside all winter.

When the pair travel to visit Mama’s sister and her family, the narrator realizes why her Mama detests the cold. Upon their return home, the girl sets out to learn more about plants native to this cooler climate and to share them with her Mama.

I love the perceptiveness of the narrator and the love between the two. Even those of us who grew up in cooler regions sometimes forget the natural beauty of winter. Having a child who opens our eyes to it may be all we need.

And as winter snows give way to sun and warmth in spring and summer, a garden incorporating plants from Taiwan and this new land may be the perfect solution to help this pair feel at home.

A Note about Craft:

On my bookshelf is a copy of Dispersals, a collection of essays written by Lee. Having read that before finding a copy of A Garden Called Home, it seems clear that Lee, “a British-Canadian-Taiwanese author [and] environmental historian”, mined her memories to write this picture book.

This Perfect Picture Book entry is being added to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book list. Check out the other great picture books featured there!