Beautiful books about gardens

You don't need a green thumb to enjoy these whimsically (and realistically) illustrated books about gardens.

Last summer, my children and I maintained a cherry tomato plant in a pot on our deck. It yielded tomatoes all summer, and it is my most successful gardening endeavor to date.

This summer, we are going to try cherry tomatoes again and add in some strawberries. In containers, of course.

I don’t have a very green thumb, but I’m working on it! And whether you enjoy getting your hands dirty or admiring nature from the comfort of your patio, the four books below are a delightful way to introduce your children to a garden’s beauty.

“Garden Sounds” written by Sam Taplin

Children’s books with sound are not usually a parent’s favorite, but this one is delightful!

“Garden Sounds” shows readers what happens in one garden from morning until night. It has two buttons on each page that, when pressed, feature real animal or nature sounds (e.g. real birds chirping, rain falling, frogs croaking). It is not only educational but very pleasant to listen to on repeat.

Recommended age: 1-3 years

“Little Yellow Bee” written by Ginger Swift, illustrated by Katya Longhi

“Little Yellow Bee” is a cute introduction to gardens and all the little critters who live in them. Meet Little Yellow Bee’s friends (bunnies, a spider, snail, garden gnome and more) under colorful, chunky flaps.

Recommended age: birth-2 years

“The Dandelion Seed” written by Joseph P. Anthony, illustrated by Cris Arbo

This beautifully illustrated classic follows the life cycle of a dandelion seed. My children are fascinated by dandelions (finding them, picking them, blowing the seeds), and they found this book absolutely mesmerizing.

Note: At the beginning of the story, the seed is afraid to let go of the dandelion plant and be swept away by the wind. There is a page where the seed says that the world is more frightening and lonely than it imagined. My four-year-old son empathized strongly with this part and teared up a bit. Going forward, I skipped this page and made a big deal about how while the seed was leaving home, it was going to a new home where it would be very happy and with friends. Just wanted to call it out so that you don’t get unexpected tears like I did! The rest of the book is pleasant and cheery.

Recommended age: 4-10

“Whose Garden is It?” written by Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Jane Dyer

This book was an unexpected treat! I saw it on a spring reading list and borrowed it from the library before watching a read aloud on YouTube (which I always do before picking up new books because I like knowing exactly what to expect).

I was not expecting adorable animals in waistcoats, tutus and fancy hats—color me pleased!

A woman (grandmother?) and a young boy come across a beautiful garden while on a walk, and they endeavor to discover who it belongs to. A gardener says it belongs to him, but a rabbit, woodchuck, bird, bugs, flowers and more all claim that it belongs to them. “Whose Garden Is It?” is a whimsical study in all the people, critters and forces of nature that help gardens grow.

Recommended age: 3-7

“She should never forget that first morning when her garden began to grow.” —Frances Hodgson Burnett