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Flower Garden
In this warm and sunny picture book, follow the progress of a little girl and her father as they put together a wonderful birthday surprise for a window box flower garden. After the pansies, tulips, daffodils, geraniums, and daisies are purchased and dad and daughter take them home on the bus, they're lovingly planted in the window box. Candles on the cake are lighted—just as Mom walks in the door to find her daughter, her husband, and her birthday surprise. “Wonderful, warm, full-color illustrations present scenes from novel angles, and depict a loving family with a sense of intimacy, sincerity, and joy.”— School Library Journal
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
About the author
Eve Bunting
328 books397 followersAlso known as Evelyn Bolton and A.E. Bunting.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
April 5, 2019
A sweet and lovely story about a young urban girl and her father who set out to make a beautiful windowbox garden . . . for a very special reason.
The story is told in rhyme, and Kathryn Hewitt's colorful paintings really make the book.
The story is told in rhyme, and Kathryn Hewitt's colorful paintings really make the book.
May 21, 2009
A very simple, beautifully illustrated story, told in gentle rhyme, of a young girl and her father embarking on a journey by bus to the grocery store to buy a window flower box. The purpose of the expedition is revealed when Mother walks in the door, carrying schoolbooks, to find the flowers, birthday cake and chocolate ice cream. The book ends with an image of the family cozily looking out the window over the flowers, which present a small oasis of beauty in a gray urban world.
This is a lovely depiction of a loving family spending their limited means extravagantly in an expression of love. The way this father includes his daughter in the project of honoring Mother's birthday expresses excellent leadership, good child training, and tenderness toward his wife. Implicit is the fact that this family works hard, with limited means, and that beauty means a great deal to them.
This is a lovely depiction of a loving family spending their limited means extravagantly in an expression of love. The way this father includes his daughter in the project of honoring Mother's birthday expresses excellent leadership, good child training, and tenderness toward his wife. Implicit is the fact that this family works hard, with limited means, and that beauty means a great deal to them.
February 6, 2019
A simple rhyming story about a little girl, helped by her father, making a window box flower garden as a birthday present for her mom. The colorful flowers are made even more special by the urban setting of this picture book. The oil paintings are lovely and heartwarming. The types of flowers are identified on the middle page spread.
April 14, 2013
It has been such a long time since I've read this book and once I re-read the book,I automatically enjoyed it. I love the artworks in this book, the characters and settings looks very realistic and the flowers were so colorful and beautiful. The artist, Kathryn Hewitt did a phenomenal job on the artworks. This book will be a great way to introduce the children different vocabularies and different names of the flowers as well as its colors. The book was a simple read and easy to follow. It also talks about the process of taking care of plants and flowers. I think this book will really encourage children to grow a garden and appreciate plants life cycle.
May 8, 2008
A good read for flower-lovers or mother's day. Beautifully drawn and simple language to describe buying and planting a window garden box for the child's mother.
June 24, 2024
This is a beautiful picture book for young children. A little girl in the city buys flowers and creates a window box “garden” for her moms birthday gift. I love how this brings out the beautiful things about young children growing up in a city!! A bus ride, pedestrians on the sidewalk, shopping at a local grocery store, etc.
October 31, 2017
Such a lovely book. Even though it's a simple story, something about it kept the attention of even the most inattentive kids in my storytimes. Beautiful illustrations and simple text.
January 26, 2022
Kind of cute, but the art and rhyming text feel dated. It's nice to see a Black girl as the main character in a picture book published this long ago, though.
March 15, 2018
This book has colorful, vivid illustrations and vocabulary words that teach children a variety of words including colors and descriptive adjectives. This story teaches time sequence to children using familiar events such as grocery shopping, walking, taking the bus, and arriving at home. This story also shows the process of planting flowers and various types of flowers which intertwine with science concepts. The story also contains elements of transportation and city dwelling and uses a catchy rhyme scheme.
March 18, 2018
This book uses simple prints for young readers. It teaches children they are needed in a family situation. It introduces different vocabularies and names of a flowers. It also teaches how to take care of plants and allows teachers to encourage children to plant flowers.
March 17, 2018
Sweet simple story with beautiful illustrations. The story has so many wonderful details to discuss with children, the book addresses why we plant flowers and what they do for us and others.
February 6, 2017
Text-to-Teaching connection
This books has beautiful colorful pictures and a simple rhyming text. In the classroom it could be used to introduce a topic of spring and growing flowers. The class could discuss the different types of flowers, such as the tulips which grow from a tulip bulb. Then they could plant a flower garden for their school.
In the story the main character plants the flowers for her mother's birthday, but you could also read the story to your class if you are planting a flower for the children to give their mothers for mother's day. I thought the setting of the book was unique, because she bought the flowers and then rode home on the bus to an apartment. This introduces students to other places that people live instead of the stereotypical house in the suburbs.
This books has beautiful colorful pictures and a simple rhyming text. In the classroom it could be used to introduce a topic of spring and growing flowers. The class could discuss the different types of flowers, such as the tulips which grow from a tulip bulb. Then they could plant a flower garden for their school.
In the story the main character plants the flowers for her mother's birthday, but you could also read the story to your class if you are planting a flower for the children to give their mothers for mother's day. I thought the setting of the book was unique, because she bought the flowers and then rode home on the bus to an apartment. This introduces students to other places that people live instead of the stereotypical house in the suburbs.
May 17, 2016
I use this every year in my story time. A wonderful story of a girl and her father making a flower box for their apartment window. I use it for garden or Mothers story times. 2000
I used this for a PJ story time tonight & a mother asked to check it out. 5/22/12
Used this for a gardening story time since I didn't use it for Mother's Day (the fire fighters came for a story time) and I have it in big book format and 2 day cares showed for the preschool story time. 5/13/14
Used in Story Time. 5/12/15
And again! (Though it has seen heavy usage, might have to get a new copy.
I used this for a PJ story time tonight & a mother asked to check it out. 5/22/12
Used this for a gardening story time since I didn't use it for Mother's Day (the fire fighters came for a story time) and I have it in big book format and 2 day cares showed for the preschool story time. 5/13/14
Used in Story Time. 5/12/15
And again! (Though it has seen heavy usage, might have to get a new copy.
February 2, 2017
Text to Teaching
A response activity for this book could be a science activity where children learn about the parts of a flower. Children can use real flowers to create 3D Art and then label the corresponding parts with leaf, stem, root or flower. The flowers can also be made with play dough or other art material. Also, teachers can include a measuring activity, where children can measure the growth of a flower versus another type. Measurements can be recorded on a weekly basis and observed for comparison. So, there's a math, science and art activity all together.
A response activity for this book could be a science activity where children learn about the parts of a flower. Children can use real flowers to create 3D Art and then label the corresponding parts with leaf, stem, root or flower. The flowers can also be made with play dough or other art material. Also, teachers can include a measuring activity, where children can measure the growth of a flower versus another type. Measurements can be recorded on a weekly basis and observed for comparison. So, there's a math, science and art activity all together.
January 24, 2008
Gorgeous storytime book. I'd probably give it 4 1/2 stars if I could, so I'm rounding up.
July 11, 2012
Cute, sweet, rhyming book - perfect for emerging readers with some challenging vocabulary!
July 28, 2018
Gentle, sweetly illustrated book celebrates the simple joy of buying, planting, and giving flowers.
July 14, 2022
Flower Garden by Eve Bunting, Illustrator -Kathryn Hewitt – Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The book narrates the story of an Afro-American family of a young girl and her father who embark on a journey by bus to the grocery store to buy a window flower box. Today, it is her mother’s birthday. Her father has limited resources. Still, they wish to celebrate her birthday in style. As the mother walks in the door, carrying school books. She is surprised to find the flowers, a birthday cake and chocolate ice cream. The book narrates the story in verse. The book ends with an image of the family cozily looking out the window over the flowers, which present a small oasis of beauty in a gray urban world. This is a lovely depiction of a loving family spending their limited means extravagantly in an expression of love. The way this father includes his daughter in the project of honoring Mother's birthday expresses excellent leadership, good child training, and tenderness toward his wife. Implicit is the fact that this family works hard, with limited means, and that beauty means a great deal to them. This is an interesting book for readers of all ages.
November 10, 2016
Book Title: Flowering Garden
Author/Illustrator:Eve Bunting/ Kathryn Hewitt
Reading Level: 2.2
Book Level: k-3
Book Summary: The picture-book paints the story of a young girl buying flowers with her father. She relives the details from picking out the flowers, the journey home, and planting them on the window sill. The best part is who the flowers are for...
Characteristics that support the genre of picture-book is the pictures tell the same story as the text. An emergent reader can follow the story without knowing the words enhancing the story.
There are several writing traits such as organization, word-choice, and, sentence fluency. These traits help the reader live the story of the flower garden. The word-choice brings the flowers alive and the girls joy can be felt. The organization of the pictures and the text allows fluent readers and emergent readers to follow the story.
Author/Illustrator:Eve Bunting/ Kathryn Hewitt
Reading Level: 2.2
Book Level: k-3
Book Summary: The picture-book paints the story of a young girl buying flowers with her father. She relives the details from picking out the flowers, the journey home, and planting them on the window sill. The best part is who the flowers are for...
Characteristics that support the genre of picture-book is the pictures tell the same story as the text. An emergent reader can follow the story without knowing the words enhancing the story.
There are several writing traits such as organization, word-choice, and, sentence fluency. These traits help the reader live the story of the flower garden. The word-choice brings the flowers alive and the girls joy can be felt. The organization of the pictures and the text allows fluent readers and emergent readers to follow the story.
Read
April 28, 2022Genre: Fiction
Bibliography: Bunting, E., & Hewitt, K. (1999). Flower garden
Response: Employing a hyperrealist feel and setting with the illustrations, Flower Garden follows a young protagonist as she sets up a garden with her family. Living within a city, the family puts a mini garden on the windowsill for everybody walking past to see. The paintings are dull and monochromatic, but the illustrator makes sure to emphasize the brilliance of the small garden by making the flowers bright, vibrant, and eye-catching. I would introduce this book to a child who lives in a more urban setting and may not be exposed to verdancy daily. This book emphasizes finding the small highlights in even the littlest thing and cherishing them with your family. This was an easy read, with rhyming stanzas, and is a great introduction book for small readers.
Bibliography: Bunting, E., & Hewitt, K. (1999). Flower garden
Response: Employing a hyperrealist feel and setting with the illustrations, Flower Garden follows a young protagonist as she sets up a garden with her family. Living within a city, the family puts a mini garden on the windowsill for everybody walking past to see. The paintings are dull and monochromatic, but the illustrator makes sure to emphasize the brilliance of the small garden by making the flowers bright, vibrant, and eye-catching. I would introduce this book to a child who lives in a more urban setting and may not be exposed to verdancy daily. This book emphasizes finding the small highlights in even the littlest thing and cherishing them with your family. This was an easy read, with rhyming stanzas, and is a great introduction book for small readers.
April 12, 2022
Vibrant oil pictures. And it rhymes! Sample rhyme: "Garden in a cardboard box/ Walking to the bus/ Garden sitting on our laps/ People smile at us!" Almost every other line is Garden in/on somewhere and then the rhyming line. The girl surprises her Mom for her birthday with a garden box. I wish it was more of the planting and the wonders of a garden. Like "Garden in a window box/ High above the street/ Where butterflies can stop and rest/ And ladybugs can meet." And when her Dad helps her with the trowel, potting soil and planting mix. The last illustration is lovely. Might use in a garden unit. Also, the family appears to be African American- so once again, if you want more diverse books, this one is great.
February 14, 2018
I love this book. It has a lovely rhyming scheme and flows well when read aloud. The sentence structure is easy to read, which makes it good both for story time as well as young readers getting their literary feet under them.
The story is that of a little girl and her father bringing flowers home on the bus. They then make a planter box with the beautiful flowers before her mother comes home to the garden on their window sill.
It's a sweet story, perfect for the budding of spring time or the fun days of summer and I will certainly be reading it to my son again as he grows older.
The story is that of a little girl and her father bringing flowers home on the bus. They then make a planter box with the beautiful flowers before her mother comes home to the garden on their window sill.
It's a sweet story, perfect for the budding of spring time or the fun days of summer and I will certainly be reading it to my son again as he grows older.
September 30, 2018
This is another cute rhyming book. I like that the illustrations in this book are relatable. The little girl and her father go out and buy groceries along with stuff for a garden. They take the bus home and walk up flights of stairs to get to their apartment. So you get to see a maybe city life that they live. The book goes over the flowers they bought and the color that they are. All of this is also while rhyming. At the end of the book, the story shows that the cake and flowers were for the mom on her birthday. I liked this book. It was simple and the pictures were good and relatable.
November 28, 2018
Flower Garden is about a young girl and her big brother who plant a windowsill flower garden for their mother as a birthday present. This book is wonderfully sweet and cute. The main characters in the book are minority characters and the background characters are diverse. The book has little text and due to the way the plot is set up, children have to use their brains to figure out what the children are doing and why as the story progresses. This book deals with concepts of diverse family dynamics, bugs, flowers, seasons and more. I highly recommend it!
October 15, 2019
This book has beautiful color pictures and simple rhyming text. While telling this story, this book also allows children to learn a lot about the daily knowledge of plants. This book is about a little girl buying flowers with her father. You follow her along the city, on the train, on the street, until finally, she comes home with the garden. They planted gardens on the window sill, and until the end, you know who these flowers are. This is a cute and simple book, I highly recommend this book to elementary school students
March 17, 2020
The book is very short but the illustrations are beautiful and show every detail, which makes the story more enjoyable and realistic. The pictures help attract the reader to the story because of the bright colors that it uses. The story had a nice flow as well. It wold be easy for beginning readers to understand. The main character is around the same age that children start reading on their own, which helps making a connection to the book. The book was enjoyable for me because I loved the illustrations and the natural flow of the book.
September 10, 2020
Grade Level 1-2 Picture book
This book is about an African American girl and her dad surprising her mom with flowers on her Birthday. I love that Eve Bunting made this rhyme. I really enjoyed it. It's very sweet and realistic. I learned myself about different names of flowers and what they look like.
Kathryn Hewitt created cinematic painting. They were realistic and they had so much depth and angles. The illustration felt like the were popping out of the page at the same time the leading lines drew me deeper in the picture.
This book is about an African American girl and her dad surprising her mom with flowers on her Birthday. I love that Eve Bunting made this rhyme. I really enjoyed it. It's very sweet and realistic. I learned myself about different names of flowers and what they look like.
Kathryn Hewitt created cinematic painting. They were realistic and they had so much depth and angles. The illustration felt like the were popping out of the page at the same time the leading lines drew me deeper in the picture.
April 14, 2021
This is a very sweet and simple story about a girl and her father going to the store to buy some flower seedlings to plant. The story follows them home on a bus, up the apartment house stairs, and being greeted by their cat. They then plant the flowers into a window flower box and put them outside. When the mother comes home, they sing happy birthday and have cake. They then surprise her with the window box. It is a lovely story with simple and short text. The pictures are beautiful and somewhat unique in that it is an urban setting.
February 20, 2023
Keywords: rhyming verse, colorful and bold illustrations, joy, PRE-K- first grade
Summary: A young girl buys plants, potting soil, and a window box at the supermarket with her father. The picture book takes you on their journey of riding the bus to their apartment, and puts together a vibrant gift for her mother’s birthday.
Prompt: The format of the book is described as a picture book written in rhyming verses. There are two lines on each page fully describing the illustrating and the journey of the young girl.
Summary: A young girl buys plants, potting soil, and a window box at the supermarket with her father. The picture book takes you on their journey of riding the bus to their apartment, and puts together a vibrant gift for her mother’s birthday.
Prompt: The format of the book is described as a picture book written in rhyming verses. There are two lines on each page fully describing the illustrating and the journey of the young girl.
Read
March 22, 2023Flower Garden is a simple, heartwarming story about a young girl planting a gift. The story follows a young girl through the city while she buys flowers with her father. Traveling through the supermarket, the bus, and other stops, the story ends with their apartment as they present their colorful gift to mom. This book uses a rhyming rhythm and colorful illustrations to create an engaging and age appripriate read. The story depicts a relatable and diverse lifestyle allowing children the opportunity for new perspectives.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews