There are few things in this world that compare to fresh fruits and vegetables from your very own garden. The sweetness of corn and peas are second to none, and apples from the backyard orchard take crisp and juicy to a whole new level. Whether your family has been gardening for years or is just starting out, here are a few books that will help young readers cultivate an interest in where their food comes from and develop a stronger connection with the earth. My First Outdoor Garden By Philippe Asseray New York: Sky Pony Press, 2022. Informational. 63 pages. This is a great resource for first time gardeners. It includes step by step instructions for making a simple box garden with a trellis. There are pages that discuss soil, seeds, watering, cuttings, and other topics necessary to set you up for success. I found the calendar at the end of the book particularly helpful. It shows which month of the year to plant specific vegetables and flowers. We Garden Together! By Jane Hirschi N...
Maybe it's because I grew up in Utah -- land of summer Rodeos and Pioneer Day -- but July is a time where I always think a lot about pioneers, homesteaders, cowboys, and westward expansion. Growing up, I loved hearing pioneer stories but as I've grown older, I've wondered about how different groups of people experienced this time period. This list of western and frontier stories have a different perspective than most books I grew up with -- and are all super entertaining reads. One Big Open Sky By Lesa Cline-Ransome New York: Holiday House, 2024. Fiction. 296 pages. In 1879, Lettie Grier's father decides that their family will travel by covered wagon from Natchez, Mississippi to Nebraska to homestead and seek opportunities not offered to Black people in their home. Lettie's mother Sylvia is reluctant to leave, but her father is determined. When the Black families are left behind by steamships taking wagons up the Mississippi river, they band together to form a trave...