The Gardener

Title: The Gardener

Author: Sarah Stewart

Illustrator: David Small

Readability: Grade level Equivalent: 3.5, Lexile Measure: 570L

Genre: General Fiction

Theme: Plants and Flowers, Culture and Diversity, Character and Values

Characters: Lydia Grace Finch, Uncle Jim

Primary Characters: Grandmother, Papa, Mama, Ed, and Emma Beech

Awards: Caldecott Honor Book

Publication: 1997

Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre Ltd.

ISBN: 0-374-32517-0

Summary: This is the story of a little girl named Lydia Grace Finch.  She leaves her parents to go live with her Uncle Jim in the city, due to the loss of jobs within her family.  Lydia Grace brings a little bit of the country with her in an envelope.  Lydia Grace brings life to the city with her flower bulbs, and vegetable garden on the roof of the building.  Lydia Grace has a goal to make Uncle Jim smile.

 

Classroom: This is a wonderful story to talk with students about friendly letter writing, or living through struggles at  home.  This could also be use to teach the skill of sequencing, and or using a timeline.