In the Garden with Dr. Carver

October 1, 2010

K-Gr 3-In this story set in the early 1900s, African-American elementary-school students Sally and her classmates get scientific lessons from Dr. George Washington Carver, who arrives in a "funny-looking wagon" pulled by an old mule, his "movable school." Everyone in the small Alabama town has heard of the famous plant scientist, however, and pays attention to what he has to say. The setting seems slightly idealized. The characters look healthy and well-dressed, although they do talk about the difficulties of farming land depleted by years of growing cotton. The focus of the story is on Carver teaching the children about plants though, not economic conditions, so Tadgell's sunny color palette, rich with earth tones, is appropriate. Sally, in a bright red dress and white pinafore, stands out in the gardening spreads. The watercolor illustrations include many humorous asides of children acting like children-making horrified faces as they taste Dr. Carver's menu of "chicken" made from peanuts and wild-weed salad, or being silly with friends when they are supposed to be listening. Scientific and historical information is well-presented through the gentle text and lighthearted illustrations. Teachers will find many uses for this appealing book.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2010

Tadgell's watercolors add both playful side business and accurate botanical illustration to this admiring child's account of the famous scientist's stopover in a rural community. George Washington Carver often spent weekends visiting settlements around Tuskegee with his "movable school" to dispense information about reclaiming depleted farmland, recycling and good agricultural practices. Avidly absorbing his injunctions to look closely at the natural world and to understand its interrelationships before changing or destroying anything, the young narrator and other children move a rose bush to a sunnier spot, make nature drawings, sample ice cream and other foods made from peanuts and "strange wild weeds," then help dig and plant a garden outside their schoolhouse. Though fictionalized, the encounter presents Carver's work and ideas in a simple, engaging way that will stay with young readers until they're ready for Marilyn Nelson's soaring Carver: A Life in Poems (2001). The endpapers present lovely illustrations of flora and fauna, complete with common and Latin names, and an author's note provides additional background on Carver's career. (Picture book. 7-9)

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September 1, 2010
Grades 1-3 In this charming historical-fiction picture book, a young girl relates an educational and inspirational visit by Dr. George Washington Carver to her Alabama town. When Carver visits Sallys school, his child-friendly explanations (Plants, like people, need nutritious food to help them grow) and hands-on demonstrations invite the students curiosity and participation, as they learn about gardening, including the importance of respecting nature, and plant a school kitchen garden of their own. Concepts like composting and planting are well conveyed through Sallys descriptive, sometimes lyrical narrative, which includes fun details like a school picnic filled with Carvers recipes, such as sweet-potato-flour bread. The colorful watercolor illustrations, featuring soft touches and historical details, depict the rural setting and expressive characters; and attractive renderings of garden flora and fauna, labeled with scientific and common-use names, decorate the endpapers. Overall, this is an enjoyable, accessible, and informative introduction to Carvers work and philosophies as well as gardening basics. A brief endnote provides additional information on Carver.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)