Stanley Jr. Gardening is Awesome!: Projects, Advice, and Insight for Young Gardeners (STANLEY (R) Jr.)

by STANLEY (R) Jr. and Chris Peterson

STANLEY® Jr. Gardening is Awesome! gets kids outside with activities and projects.

Kids can jump right in with an introduction to gardening. A complete basics section on vegetables, fruits, flowers, trees, and shrubs kicks things off. You’ll also learn how to make super soiland keep plants happy with the right amount of sunlight and water. A complete garden gear guide gets you ready for growing. The rest of the book is all about things to do.

With plenty for adults to learn about, too, chapters and projects include:

• Gardening How-Tos shows you how to test soil drainage and start plants in an egg carton.
• Great Bed Gardens sets you up for success when planting a row garden, a colorful summer flower garden, and more. 
• Container Gardening shows you how to grow strawberries in a 5-Gallon bucket and create a beautiful bulb box.
• Raised Bed Plots feature a square foot garden, uplifted herb garden, and even a vertical garden!

With clearly written steps and helpful photographs, the aim is for kids to lead. STEAM/STEMlearning opportunities are part of the fun as well! Fun facts and explorations accompany the projects throughout the book, highlighting everything from composting chemistry to the math behind a square foot garden. Kids are encouraged to develop a “maker” mentality, fostering creative problem-solving and open-ended exploration. Build and explore in the garden!

The STANLEY® Jr. series is full of books for young makers that empower creativity. They feature wholesome inspiration, learning, and fun for everyone. Filled with easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step photos, they are playbooks to build, grow, and create something new.

• ISBN13: 9780760368428
• Publish Date: 9 March 2021 (first published 2 February 2021)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 23 June 2023
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Cool Springs Press
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 112
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Stanley Jr. Gardening is Awesome is a colorful, appealing, and accessible guide for young gardeners (and their families) introducing useful and fun projects and concepts. Due out 9th March 2021 from Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint, it's 112 pages and will be available in flexi-bound and ebook formats.

This is a book stuffed full of useful and educational tutorials written in simple-to-understand language. The book's tutorials are arranged thematically: essentials (what is a plant, what are climate and weather, soil, water), choosing plants (veggies, fruits, flowers, trees, shrubs), how-to (improve soil, compost, start plants, grow seedlings, control pests/diseases), building beds, containers, and raised beds. The book also includes an index to find information quickly and conveniently.

Quarto's books are well known for accessible and appealing graphics and photography and this book is no exception. The photographic tutorials are well arranged and easy to understand with clear photos and diagrams. The models pictured throughout are representative and inclusive, both boys and girls of multiple ethnicities (representation is important).

I enjoyed this one a lot. Recommended for public/school library acquisition, community gardening groups, activity groups, gifting, or the home library. Well done. Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.