
"There once was a city without gardens or trees or greenery of any kind. Most people spent their time indoors. As you can imagine, it was a very dreary place." - The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
I like big, wide open, green spaces. Land covered with plants, flowers, and trees with blue skies above and butterflies fluttering around. My Brimful Curiosities blog header pretty much proves this point. Guess I'm more of a country girl than a big city girl. However, sometimes green areas - big and beautiful green expanses can exist in unlikely places. Peter Brown in his new book The Curious Garden
The Curious Garden
This feel-good, join-hands picture book reminds us that it only takes one small person to do something remarkable and by working together with others amazing things can be achieved. The illustrations by Brown are quite simply magnificent and have a vintage feel to them. As if painting a fairy-tale, Brown takes a dark and dreary place and magically turns it a bright, cheery garden full of life. My daughter has expressed a lot of interest lately in plants since spring arrived. She very much enjoyed watching the garden spread through the book and after reading about Liam, really wants to start growing her own garden, weeds and all.
It is easy to envision this modern day “Secret Garden” filled with hard-work and hope. You can’t imagine how happy I felt after reading the back page of the book where I learned that there is such a place currently under development in New York City called the High Line. Some cities do offer a few neat green spaces. If you are curious enough you'll find them. The Curious Garden - a wonderful Earth Day or any day read!
The Curious Gardenby Peter Brown. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (April 2009); 40 pages; ISBN 9780316015479
Related Links:
Peter Brown - Author/Illustrator Website
High Line (New York City) - Wikipedia
Downloadable The Curious Garden Poster
Enter the Curious Garden Drawing Contest sponsored by Hachette Book Group. Kids ages 3-13: draw a picture of a garden and enter the Curious Garden Contest to win a hardcover copy of The Curious Garden and a Curious Garden seed and flowerpot kit. Last day to enter: May 8, 2009. (Make sure to read the complete rules and send the consent form in as well.)

To enter, leave a comment telling me about your favorite garden or favorite children's book about a garden.
• For contact purposes, if you are a non-blogger or your email is not accessible in your blog profile, please leave a valid email address within the comment section.Three ways to gain extra entries (Maximum total entries is 4):
• Contest is open to US only
• Contest ends on Monday, May 4th, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST.
• Winner will be chosen at random
1st extra entry: Follow Me! or subscribe by email or RSS reader
2nd extra entry: Blog about this contest then post your link in the comment section.
3rd extra entry: Follow me on twitter (iambrimful) and tweet about the contest.
126 comments:
Hi Janelle,
First, I added your blog to my feed reader!
My favorite children's book about a garden is THE GARDENER, written by Sarah Stewart and illustrated by David Small. It's the story of a girl who is sent to live with a grumpy uncle who owns a bakery during the depression. She brings seeds with her, and during her stay plants a beautiful garden on the roof of her uncle's building. The illustrations are gorgeous and the story is heartwarming.
This sounds like such a fun book! We have a very large garden out back and the kids just love to help with it! It's their excuse to get muddy and not get in trouble!!
Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
kysmom02@hotmail.com
PS...I follow you!
And here's the link to my post mentioning your giveaway.
http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/2009/04/around-web.html
A great children's book about gardening is "Sunflower House" by Eve Bunting - beautiful illustrations. Thanks for the chance - this book looks great too! alicedemske at hotmail.com
I subscribe via google reader- alicedemske at hotmail.com
What a great book!
Our favorite garden is our own. My kids (6 and 5) love to help out and my son enjoys picking and promptly eating all cherry tomatoes. ;)
Peace and Blessings,
Kiva
I followed you on Twitter and have retweeted the giveaway. :)
This one sounds so good!!!
I am a follower!
My favorite garden book is Mrs. Spitzer's Garden. It is such a sweet story with a great message.
Thanks for a great giveaway, as usual!
shelcows AT gmail DOT com
My favorite garden was ours last year. My son helped plant and he loved watching everything grow. We grew our very first watermelons!
I follow you in bloglines.
My favorite garden is my own..I have roses all summer and in the spring large bunches of yellow and red tulips and cluster daffodils that smell heavenly. And in my backyard we have our home garden-veggies and fruits-I love watching it grow.
arianiah@hotmail.com
I follow
arianiah@hotmail.com
A wonderful middle-level book dealing with a community garden is called SEEDFOLKS by Paul Fleishman. Simple story; simple lesson.
shelleyf76@hotmail.com
I've been looking forward to reading this book.
Sounds like a good book! We're big gardeners. My favorite garden was my grandmother's. She had an amazing green thumb and could get anything to grow. So many great memories of walking around her yard and seeing her handiwork year after year.
I also blogged about the contest!
http://amygirl312.blogspot.com/2009/04/gardening-in-so-many-words.html
The Carrot Seed is one of my favorite gardening books: short and sweet. Thanks for the give away!
I subscribe!
My favorite garden is at a place by my house, called Thanksgiving Point. They have a tulip festival going on right now and the tulips are gorgeous!
aprilsmail(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm a follower!
aprilsmail(at)gmail(dot)com
my favorite garden was at my friend's mom's house. it had a secret sitting area in the center of it. when you were sitting there you couldn't see anything but the garden. it was so peaceful and beautiful - the perfect spot!
elkesten at yahoo dot com
My favorite garden is at my MIL home. I don't have a green thumb so, I relish in her talents :)
What a great giveaway. I love the book Linnea in Monet's Garden--beautiful pictures.
We love The Carrot Seed! Thanks for the chance to win!
saz AT chainreader DOT com
I'm a follower!
My favorite garden is from my childhood. It was my grandmothers garden. I planted, and dug, and ate the fruits of her garden for years. I would love to someday cultivate what she had in her garden, both physically and emotionally!!
Our favorite garden is in our backyard:) My 3 yr old loves to check our veggies every day to see their progress:) This sounds great! Thanks!
christinbanda(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
I follow:)
christinbanda(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
I love my herb garden.
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
I follow.
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
My Uncle was a farmer and he had the most amazing garden ever! He planted all kinds of vegetables and tended it so it was always perfect looking AND we always got to sample!
I found your site through a link at The Miss Rumphius Effect. This book happens to be my all-time favorite picture book. I love how Miss Rumphius did one thing to make the world more beautiful by spreading her seeds over the landscape creating a 'world garden.' The Curious Garden sounds like a wonderful book as well. tdtyo@yahoo.com
My favorite garden is Leu Gardens which is a quick 5 minute walk from my home in downtown Orlando. I can forget about everything there. Even though it's in the middle of the city it is quiet and beautiful!
Thanks!
Adreisinger@aol.com
Email subscriber.
Adreisinger@aol.com
Twitter and Tweeted!
http://twitter.com/afabozzi/statuses/1580148036
Adreisinger@aol.com
My favorite book about a garden is Skating Shoes by Noel Streatfeild. As you may recall, Harriet's brother earns the money for her skating lessons and all leftovers go toward his dream of a market garden.
This book sounds beautiful! Our favorite garden book is "What's This? A Seed Story," by Caroline Mockford, and published by Barefoot Books. (shameless plug -- I sell Barefoot Books, too! You can see my blog for the banner on the side!) It's a great simple story that my 3 1/2 year old calls "the story about a girl who grows a flower." And because of reading it, she now wants to plant a sunflower garden this summer! Cute!
Oh, and for the extra entry, I'm already a subscriber through bloglines. Thanks!!
-Lori
oops -- I forgot to leave my e-mail.
hawkins_lori (at) hotmail (dot) com
the secret garden
follow/subscribe
http://twitter.com/valerie2350/status/1580879270
I'm not much of a gardener but this spring, my 3 yr. old son and I are going to plant a garden. I'm going to let him choose the plants - we'll maybe do a planter box of flowers and another of veggies (he LOVES tomatoes). I think this will be my favorite garden.
melacan at hotmail dot com
I keep seeing this at the checkout line at Wegman's and I'm trying to hold off on buying it! Definitely would love to add this to my spring collection!
Besides our own garden, my favorite garden is the Botanical Gardens in San Antonio, Texas.
talonsmom731 at gmail dot com
I'm a follower.
talonsmom731 at gmail dot com
I blogged: http://goyay.blogspot.com/2009/04/curious-garden-book-giveaway.html
talonsmom731 at gmail dot com
I am following on Twitter and tweeted: http://twitter.com/talonsmom731/status/1581282508
talonsmom731 at gmail dot com
when I was a kid me and my mom raised prize winning flowers
shopannies@Yahoo.com
subscriber
shopannies@Yahoo.com
twittered
http://twitter.com/shopannies/status/1581371309
shopannies@yahoo.com
My favorite garden is of course our own :) But I'm also loving yours! We'd love to have more space.
I am now following your blog, following you on twitter and will tweet the contest. (Heard about your giveaway on Twitter, btw)
Will try blog and return with a url later.
my favorite book about a garden would be "The Secret Garden"
debbiebellows[at]gmail[dot]com
i subscribed by email
debbiebellows[at]gmail[dot]com
i started following you on twitter
(bellows22) and I tweeted about
the giveaway!
http://twitter.com/bellows22/status/1581616114
debbiebellows[at]gmail[dot]com
I remember my favorite garden was my grandmas. she worked out there all day long. It was so pretty she has vines of tomoatoes and lot so fruit I helped her pick them when they were ripe. I remember that being a great memory we shared together. amsbolda@hotmail.com
I subscribe. amsbolda@hotmail.com
My favorite garden is the one we had every year growing up. We had a huge backyard and our relatives would all get together to plant the enormous garden and we all shared the veggies.
That was a great memory. Thank you!
I'm a subscriber.
I follow on Twitter and tweeted
http://twitter.com/kewpiedoll04/status/1582714369
Would love to win this for the grandsons. I haven't been too successful with a garden here in TX due to the over population of the deer. I tried when we first moved here but they eat everything as soon as it blooms. Thanks for having the wonderful giveaway.
dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com
My grandmother had a lovely garden. She also did all the canning of vegetables from the garden. This where I first learned to garden and can. I think she was my first inspiration.
espressogurl at hotmail dot com
I subscribe by email to your blog.
espressogurl at hotmail dot com
I love the local public flower garden here. It's so pretty and nice to walk through when everything is blooming.
My mom's garden is my favorite. She has plants that belonged to each of my grandmothers moved from their homes, to her home, and now to her new home! She is a great gardener!
I'm thinking about the peter rabbit childrens book. Such a classic favorite!
My favorite children's book about a garden... well actually my FAVORITE book of all time, which happens to be about a garden is "The Secret Garden" I still have the dog-earred copy of this book that was given to me by my mother and will pass it down to my daughter, whom I hope will love it just as much as I do!
Keilann
teq97[at]hotmail[dot]com
One of my favorite children's book is The Three Little Pigs.
We love Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! Such a cute books.
mommastaci33(at)yahoo(dot)com
I subscribe.
mommastaci33(at)yahoo(dot)com
My favorite garden is in Indiana, in my hometown, where I was raised. My children loved there until they were 12, 10 and 5 years of age and we visited each summer thereafter. They loved playing in the garden, picking the veggies for harvest and especially eating the raspberries & blackberries right off the vine.
I subscribe via Google Reader and also on Twitter.
I tweeted about the contest: http://twitter.com/Tasses/status/1589690721
My favorite children's book about a garden would have to be The Secret Garden!
Thank for the contest!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
I subscribe to your blog in Google Reader
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
My favorite garden is my husband's grandfather's. He grows the biggest blackberries I've ever seen!
My favorite garden was my grandfather's. Growing up, I spent HOURS in this HUGE garden, full of veggies and berries. Every time I pop a raspberry in my mouth to this day, I'm transported there :)
Looks like a great book!
My favorite story is The Secret Garden. Thanks for the giveaway. This sounds like a great book.
rlgrady[at]yahoo[dot]com
My favorite garden is the one that we just planted! We tried last year but nothing grew!
lindsmoore55 AT yahoo DOT com
I love vegetable gardens! I enjoy seeing the fruits of my labor and there's nothing like to eat food you've grown yourself and being able to share it with friends, family, and neighbors!
ellybean (at) connected2christ (dot) com
http://www.connected2christ.com
I'm a follower.
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/erinlowmaster/statuses/1595368621
Favorite garden is when we planted with the kids.
I'm a subscriber.
My favorite children's book about a gardne is called "A Doll in the Garden." It is one of the first ghost stories I ever remember reading as a child and it nurtured the love I have for such stories today. It has a surprise ending that really wowed me when I was little :)
renee
yeloechikee at hotmail dot com
My favorite garden was my mom's. She used to have a huge garden every year, including fresh okra( my favorite,) and all the ingredients for homemade salsa.
iluvchrisnlevi@aol.com
My favorite garden book is a childhood memory - "Seeds and More Seeds". It was an I Can Read Book, but looking back, it was very well done.
you can see it here -
http://twisted-genius.squarespace.com/journal/2009/3/25/tomi-ungerer-seeds-and-more-seeds.html
I love my community garden, it's so much fun!
urchiken at gmail dot com
My favorite garden is my parents. They go all out -- flowers, veggies -- its great.
Thanks for the giveaway!
kimspam66@yahoo.com
My favorite garden is my mothers garden. It has a nice variety of colorful flowers and beautiful trees. It is a very relaxing getaway.
The gardens of Versailles in Paris are absolutely exquisite! Nothing like them.
quelleheure4[at]gmail{dot}com
I subscribed via reader.
quelleheure4[at]gmail{dot}com
I followed you on twitter and tweeted. http://twitter.com/quelleheure4/status/1609261820
quelleheure4[at]gmail{dot}com
I like the book "How To Grow a Rainbow" Thanks for the giveaway
I subscribe with yzgirl4 at verizon dot net
my father in laws garden was beautiful- thats my favorite
My favorite garden was my Grandmother's. She had the most beautiful roses and flowers.
I am a subscriber.
I love my papaws garden... growing up... meeemories!!
follower
follow and tweeted http://twitter.com/kgail11/status/1621240931
My favorite garden was the one we had growing up - we grew green beans, strawberries, carrots, radishes.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Amy B.
adennispac@Yahoo.com
I am a follower!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Amy B.
adennispac@Yahoo.com
My favorite garden is my mother's. It is very natural, cool, and shady. I will always aspire to have a garden like hers!
when I was very small my father tended a garden in a vacant lot across from my grandma's house. I remember burying fish for fertilizer and growing the sweetest little yellow pear tomatos you ever tasted. I always have a garden now, and I love those memories.
Even though we lived in the city when I was growing up, our street was lined with Chestnut trees. It was so beautifl. The city came in and "chopped" these beautiful living trees down to widen the street for cars. Please enter me in the giveaway.
Thank you.
We love our vegetable garden
tiggeraj at yahoo dot com
My favorite garden is my own. Each year I like to plant at least one new variety of flower.
My favorite garden is the one I have in my mind to do at my house one day. We just haven't been able to yet. I would love to have fresh tomatoes for a salad! Thank you for the giveaway.
My favorite garden book is "how to have a green thumb without an aching back" by Ruth Stout.
I follow you on twitter – I am @zwriter!
I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/zwriter/status/1683985659
I follow your blog!
We are starting our own garden, so I would have to say ours will be my fave. lol
We saw the gardens built by Catherine the Great at the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia. They were amazing.
pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net
My favorite is Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert.
Thank you!
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I subscribed by email.
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I follow on Twitter and I sent a tweet:
http://twitter.com/Janetfaye/status/1685409437
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
"The Secret Garden" is my favorite unless you count "Jack and the Beanstalk". Hey, I'd love to grow beans that big!
My favorite book about a garden is The Secret Garden. It had such mystery.
I have read the secret garden to my girls and they loved it.I did too at thier age.Thanks!
i would have to say my garden it is just starting to bloom and its gorgeous :)
following your blog as klp1965
kathy pease
Our favorite garden is the Kingwood Center in Mansfield Ohio, It is absolutely beautiful. In the Spring, the massive amounts of Tulips, and Daffodils are amazing. Beautiful place.
Thanks for the chance at the giveaway. WE love books!
I am a follower, Thanks!
My favorite children's book about a garden is THE GARDENER,
I posted all ur links in my blog
http://rajeeslifestyle.blogspot.com/2009/05/giveaways-around-blogospheremay1st-to.html.
my twitter name @myproductreview
rajikarthik@hotmail.com
I always loved the book The Secret Garden!
ajcmeyer AT go DOT com
I'm curious about what makes a book "golden" to a young child. I had a teacher in the third grade who read us, at lunchtime, "The Secret Garden". I was enthralled, as were all the children in the class, and couldn't wait for the morning to be over. I'd love to be able to WRITE a book like that, and am curious about how to get started. plytle1 at comcast dot net.
Hurry, Hurry, Mary Dear by N.M. Bodecker, illustrated by Erik Blegvad is my all-time favorite garden book : )
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