In the Garden with Dr. Carver

In the Garden with Dr. Carver

Written by: Susan Grigsby

Illustrated by: Nicole Tadgell

Albert Whitman & Company, 2010

30 Pages

Historical Fiction

 

     I chose this book, because I thought it would be a great book to use to teach students how plants grow.  The book takes place in the early 1900s.  It is about a school that gets visited by George Washington Carver.  He teaches the students different parts of nature.  He also helps them find out why a plant isn’t growing and teaches them what plants need.  Dr. Carver shares some of his inventions in food with the class as well.  He makes them lunch using only a few plants.  He makes bread out of sweet potatoes and “chicken” out of peanuts!  Dr. Carver also shows the class how to plant their own garden.  He teaches them how to transform soil so that plants will grow there.  They make their own garden using some land near the school.  The students are taught to rake and till the soil and what to put in the soil to fertilize it.  Then, Dr. Carver shows the students how to plant their crops. They plant lots of vegetables; they also plant melons and peanuts! After Dr. Carver helps the students with the garden, he has to leave; but, the students don’t want him to go!

     The artist does a wonderful job with the illustrations.  She uses watercolor paint.  The colors are very soft and light.  I love how she uses two-page spreads.  It allows her to paint a clearer picture of what is happening in the story.  It also allows her to provide more details.  The illustrator also does a good job portraying the story in its time frame.  The clothing and scenery match what it might really look like during the early 1900s. 

     I would use this book in my classroom to teach my students a science lesson on how plants grow.  I would also use it to teach my students all of the things plants need to grow.  Another thing it could be used for is to teach a lesson on insects and why some of them are important to have in gardens.  It could also be used to teach a history lesson on George Washington Carver and his inventions.  I think this book is most appropriate for third and fourth grade, but it could be used in second grade to teach students about plants.