Over the Counter #119

What caught my eye this week passing over the library counter and under the scanner? Although we're halfway through the growing season in my area, there were lots of great gardening ideas for kids (and adults!) in both of these books. Some great stuff to try at home or use for a kid's program at the library!

First up was The Book of Gardening Projects for Kids by Whitney Cohen and John Fisher.

From the publisher Timber Press:

"Many gardeners find that once they have children gardening goes the way of late-night dinner parties and Sunday morning sleep-ins. Raising kids and maintaining a garden can be a juggling act, leaving the family garden forgotten and neglected. But kids can make great gardening companions, and the benefits of including them are impossible to ignore. Gardening gets kids outdoors and away from television and video games, increases their connection to plants and animals, and helps build enthusiasm for fresh fruits and vegetables. Their involvement becomes the real harvest of a family garden.
In The Book of Gardening Projects for Kids, Whitney Cohen and John Fisher draw on years of experience in the Life Lab Garden Classroom and gardening with their own children to teach parents how to integrate the garden into their family life, no matter its scope or scale. The book features simple, practical gardening advice, including how to design a play-friendly garden, ideas for fun-filled theme gardens, and how to cook and preserve the garden's bounty. 101 engaging, family-friendly garden activities are also featured, from making Crunch-n-Munch Vegetable Beds and Muddy Miniature Masterpieces to harvesting berries for Fresh Fruity Pops.
This step-by-step guide to working side-by-side with kids will inspire all parents to grow their own little gardener and to get dirty, plant seeds, and enjoy the garden's delicious rewards.

Next up was Garden Crafts for Children by Dawn Isaac.

From the publisher Cico Books:

"Garden Crafts for Children is crammed full of inspirational ideas to get kids excited about gardening and nature. A wheelbarrow vegetable garden, cress caterpillars, an insect hotel and a sunflower alley are just some of the fun and creative ideas in this invaluable book. There are chapters on using creative containers from teapots to rain boots, windowsill gardening with foods such as cress and beans, and beautiful nature crafts such as picture frames and mobiles that can be made indoors. Whether your garden is big or small, and even if you don t have a garden at all, Dawn Isaac s wonderful garden crafts will keep kids entertained, with plenty of projects to fill every season. The 35 projects, perfect for children from ages 3 to 11, are designed to be achievable and affordable with simple-to-follow, step-by-step photographs and clear advice, and there is help on growing and gardening for children and adults alike."

(Over the Counter is a regular feature at A Bookworm's World. I've sadly come the realization that I cannot physically read every book that catches my interest as it crosses over my counter at the library. But... I can mention them and maybe one of them will catch your eye as well. See if your local library has them on their shelves!)