ZINNIA’S FLOWER GARDEN

A girl and her garden are the subject of this engaging outing. Wellington chronicles each step in the planting process, from tilling the soil and sowing seeds to harvesting those seeds at the end of the season. Her signature illustrations—bright, bold, and crisp—are accented with lively and informative detail, which ups the science factor. Color-copied photographs of seeds, buds, and flowers frame the text; a series of drawings spotlights the flowers’ roots and shoots and a scientific drawing labels its parts. Also in the frame, the little girl’s journal tracks the progress with simple entries and the date of news: “July 7. My sunflowers are so tall. I hate weeds.” All of these factors create a successful germination of science and storytelling, growing a terrific introduction to the life cycle of plants and a good choice for young gardeners everywhere. (Picture book. 3-8)