Michelle's Garden: How the First Lady Planted Seeds of Change

by Sharee Miller (Author)

Michelle's Garden: How the First Lady Planted Seeds of Change
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

From an acclaimed author and illustrator: enjoy this tribute to Former First Lady Michelle Obama and her contributions to building the healthy future that America's children deserve.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama had an idea. A big, inspiring, and exciting idea! She would grow the largest kitchen garden ever at the White House. This wouldn't be easy, since she'd never gardened before: Where should she start? What tools did she need? What would she plant? Everyone needs help when they're learning something for the first time, even the first lady of the United States. So she gathered the help of local students, the White House staff, and even President Barack Obama. Together, they wouldn't just grow a garden--they would inspire a nation!

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Kirkus

[Michelle's Garden is] sure to encourage readers to eat their veggies and join Michelle Obama's table, even if all they start with is a cup.

Publishers Weekly

Beginning with how Michelle Obama's earliest introduction to healthy lifestyle choices bloomed into a love of fresh produce and staying active, Miller pays tribute to the figure's eventual hope "to help all kids be healthier." As First Lady, aiming to excite kids about "eating more fruits and vegetables," Obama creates the largest kitchen garden in White House history, despite having never before gardened. Unsure where to begin, she invites chefs and gardeners to show her the ropes, and students to help plant, water, and harvest the 1,100-sq.-ft. plot--planting seeds that inspire "more families, schools, and urban communities across the country to build their own." Miller's watercolor, colored pencil, and ink illustrations show expressive images of Obama's unyielding commitment to the project alongside tools needed to get the job done. Back matter includes additional information about the White House Kitchen Garden and an easy-to-follow activity for starting a paper cup garden. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3—This engaging work of narrative nonfiction follows the story of former First Lady Michelle Obama's White House kitchen garden project. It includes brief mentions of her family life and childhood but the main focus is the garden and the hopes and goals that inspired it. Particularly special about this work is the focus on a healthy lifestyle. The prose is simple and clear and is most appropriate for younger students. The work is not so simple, however, as to alienate older, elementary-age children. The fun and vivid illustrations portray the action in the book, which supports younger students in comprehension. Drawings are done in line and filled in with watercolorlike colors. This work would be excellent to start a unit where students grow plants. It would also make a great part of a launch to a larger campus project, like a school garden. Back matter includes a photograph of the project, author's note, and instructions for growing a paper cup plant. VERDICT A delightful work of narrative nonfiction that focuses on healthy living, this book is recommended for all school libraries.—Christina Salazar, Mesquite I.S.D., TX

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes





Sharee Miller
Sharee Miller lives and works in Jersey City with her husband and their two cats, Pumpkin and Spice. Her illustrations combine bright colors, patterns, and expressive characters to tell the stories she wishes she had as a kid. She is the author of Princess Hair and Don't Touch My Hair!
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780316458573
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date
March 02, 2021
Series
-
BISAC categories
GAR000000 - Gardening | General
Library of Congress categories
White House (Washington, D.C.)
Vegetable gardening
Kitchen gardens
Obama, Michelle

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