OVER IN THE GARDEN

Rhyme and rhythm are in full blossom.

Featuring rollicking, tightly constructed rhymes, this variation on the classic counting song “Over in the Meadow” follows a busy group of racially diverse young gardeners who care for a community garden. Youngsters will love chanting along with the delicious verses. As they do so, they’ll practice counting skills, gain an appreciation for rhyme and rhythm, and learn about the different chores involved in creating and maintaining a proper garden (and about the equipment gardeners use). Kids will be charmed by the animal pals who join in the fun. At one point, the young workers must pause—but only temporarily—as a sudden rainstorm sets in: “Over in the garden, / in a shelter of pine, / hid the damp little gardeners / in a huddle of NINE. 'Rain,' sang the gardeners, / 'Spring rain!' sang all NINE. / And they danced and they pranced / in a shelter of pine.” The final scenes reveal that these caretakers have worked hard to produce a wonderland of plantings and colors. Number words throughout are set in boldfaced black capital letters. The illustrations burst with both vegetation and with bright hues and dynamic activity.

A garden of utter delights.