The spring is a great time to discuss and explore gardens and gardening, but really you can do this any time of the year. This post shares stories about gardens that you can use for this purpose. All of the picture books on this list lend themselves to this topic really well. Take a peek below to learn more about these stories about gardens!
5 Stories about Gardens
Below is a list of some of our favorite stories about gardens to share with elementary students. Check them out!
1. Mossy by Jan Brett
Mossy is a turtle that lives in Lilypad Pond. She is a special turtle because a garden grows on her back. There are flowers, plants, and berries that grow on her shell, making her look unique and beautiful. One day, Mossy runs into another turtle, Scoot, and the two are amazed by one another. However, before they can get close, Dr. Carolina scoops Mossy up.
Dr. Carolina owns a museum nearby. She and her niece Tory were taking a walk when they noticed Mossy and Dr. Carolina thought she would be perfect for the museum. Mossy becomes a popular attraction at the museum, but Tory notices Mossy seems sad. When Tory’s class visits the museum, the classmates wonder if Mossy has friends. This gives Dr. Carolina the idea to have a portrait made of Mossy for everyone to see. This allows them to return Mossy to the pond where she reunites with Scoot.
Check out these Mossy teaching resources and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging read aloud lessons!
2. The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
Liam lives in a city that is dark and dreary. He is the only one who ever seems to go outside. Liam enjoys exploring his city and decides one day to explore the old railway. When he reaches the top of the railway, he finds a small little garden. Liam realizes the garden needs help so he starts taking care of it. As Liam’s gardening skills grow, so does the garden.
Soon, the garden is spreading throughout the city. It ends up in unexpected places like outside people’s homes and on stop signs. The community starts to notice the garden, and people even start coming outside. New gardeners appear and plant their own gardens and enjoy the outdoors.
As time passes, the city changes and becomes more colorful. But the original garden will always be Liam’s favorite.
Check out these The Curious Garden teaching resources and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging read aloud lessons!
3. The Gardener by Sarah Stewart
Sarah Stewart’s book, The Gardener, takes place during the Great Depression. The story follows a young girl named Lydia Grace, whose parents have both lost their jobs. It is decided that she will move to the city to live with her Uncle Jim who owns a bakery. The book is told through the letters she writes home to her family.
Lydia Grace loves gardening and works hard to neaten up the bakery and plant flowers. She also discovers a secret place on the building’s rooftop and plans a surprise for her Uncle Jim, who never smiles. Lydia Grace and her new friend Emma work to create a beautiful garden on the rooftop and plan to surprise Uncle Jim. When Lydia Grace reveals the garden to Uncle Jim, she learns he has a surprise for her too. Her surprise is cake and a letter announcing her father’s new job and that she will return home!
Check out these The Gardener teaching resources and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging read aloud lessons!
4. Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
Hare and Bear are neighbors that live on a farm. The land is owned by Bear because his father left him all of his land and wealth. Hare has a wife and children and they are having a hard time with money. He and his wife come up with a plan to trick Bear and feed their children.
Hare asks Bear to be partners with him and explains they will split the profit down the middle. Bear just has to decide if he wants the tops or bottoms. When the crops are ready to be harvested, Hare gives Bear his choice of the tops. Bear realizes he is tricked when Hare keeps the vegetables and gives him the stems. Bear tells Hare to plant more crops and this time he wants the bottoms. Again, Hare tricks Bear!
In the end, Bear gives up and decides to plant his own crops. Hare is able to sell the vegetables he harvested and buy back his own land. Even though the two are still neighbors, they are no longer business partners.
Check out these Tops and Bottoms teaching resources and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging read aloud lessons!
5. Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming
Mr. McGreely had dreamed of planting a vegetable garden for many years. He looked forward to getting his hands dirty, and growing yummy vegetables he could eat. Although it took him a long time before actually planting the garden, he finally got started.
One morning when Mr. McGreely went outside to check on his sprouts, he found that some bunnies had nibbled on them! Feeling angry, Mr. McGreely decided to build a small wire fence to keep the bunnies out of his garden. However, that night, the bunnies were able to hop over the fence and get to his vegetables. When Mr. McGreely saw the nibbled leaves the next morning, he decided to build and even taller, wood fence. Unfortunately the bunnies were able to get past the fence and eat the vegetables. Mr. McGreely was furious! He built an enormous stone wall with a door and lock. The bunnies were not able to get past it!
The next morning, Mr. McGreely went into the garden to collect his vegetables. He was surprised to find the bunnies had hopped into the basket he carried and made their way into the garden! The group sat down to munch on the vegetables together.
Check out these Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! teaching resources and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging read aloud lessons!
Grab the Free Reading Resources!
In closing, we hope you found this list of stories about gardens helpful! They are part of our Starts With a Story collection. If you want to get more book ideas to read aloud to your elementary students, then grab this reading freebie. It includes read aloud books lists, reading logs, and reading challenges for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classroom teachers. It will have you covered for the entire school year, as well as the summer months! Grab this free elementary reading packet now!
