PICTURE BOOK REVIEW: Badger's Perfect Garden by Marsha Diane Arnold
ABOUT THE BOOK
It's springtime and Badger is ready to plant the perfect garden. He has spent months gathering and sorting seeds. It's been a lot of work but it's worth it. His friends Red Squirrel, Dormouse, and Weasel come to help. They weed. They rake. And finally they plant. Afterward, everyone celebrates, and Badger can already imagine the perfect rows of flowers and vegetables. But then a rainstorm comes and washes away the beautiful seeds. Badger's perfect garden is ruined. Or is it? Author Marsha Diane Arnold's gentle story will encourage young readers to think beyond plans and expectations and imagine the wonderful possibilities that may occur when life and nature have other ideas.
REVIEW
Anyone whose experienced the frustration of having perfect plans destroyed will be able to relate to Badger's frustration. After taking the time to carefully plan and build a garden, with the help of his friends, Red Squirrel, Dormouse, and Weasel, Badger's heartbroken when the seeds are swept away and the garden destroyed in a storm. He works to avoid seeing the garden, a reminder of his disappointment. Until the day his friends arrive on his doorstep to show him that sometimes even thought things don't work out the way one hopes, the results can still be good. Not only is this a delightful book about gardening and the hazards that can go with it, it's also a sweet reminder that sometimes things work out even when our plans don't. The illustrations are darling and compliment the text beautifully. A wonderful book all around, especially for those looking for stories about friendship, gardening, or overcoming disappointment.
This looks and sounds like a lovely book. I look forward to reading it. Congratulations, Marsha and Ramona.
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