10 Garden Books for Preschoolers

One of the obstacles to children eating whole food diets is that many live in a world where food just "appears" - and mostly in processed form. Do noodles grown on trees? Do apples come from the grocery store bin? These are the things my toddlers ask! In order to develop an early love of clean eating, children need to have tactile, sensory experiences with whole foods. I really believe this. They need to understand the gift of food - where it comes from, how it grows, and how it's prepared.

That's why I'm such a big fan of our kitchen garden. Let's not pretend we actually save any money growing our own food. (At least we don't - not after accounting for set up materials, extra seeds the twins "accidentally" sowed in their sandbox, and replacement plants for everything the birds and bunnies destroy...) Full Discloser: We are very bad gardeners. But what we do gain from gardening is invaluable, hands-on learning for our little ones.

Now not everyone has space or time for a kitchen garden, I know. We've been in that boat too. One year, instead of flowers, we put big pots of tomato plants on our tiny porch. Or it's all over Pinterest how you can regrow vegetables on your windowsill. BUT there are also books. Maybe you don't have a park nearby to travers on a "Seed Hunt". But you can read about seeds as your toddler marches his pudgy fingers across the pages, hunting for seeds in illustration form. The amazing thing about literature is that it can gift experiences to us that we would never have explored without it. AND you don't have to remember to water a literary garden! Speaking of which... (that whole thing about being bad gardeners)...

Here are ten our favorite preschool-appropriate books about gardens while I go grab the hose and hope it's not too late to save our strawberries:

Songs & Poems about Gardens

1. Jo MacDonald Had a Garden
Beautiful illustrations depict a garden through every season. Make up your own hand motions and sing along to the tune of "Old MacDonald".

2. Anna's Garden Songs
Children will benefit from the rhythm of poetry read aloud. Whimsical illustrations make this entertaining as well.









Silly Stories about Gardens

3. Frog and Toad Together: The Garden (Caldecott)
Toad wants to plant a garden and Frog gives him seeds but warns him it is hard work. This amusing tale is a good time to discuss what seeds really need in order to grow.

4. A Garden for Pig
Pig is tired of eating apples and wishes he had his own garden. Imagine his surprise when plants sprout from his droppings! Perfect for poop-obsessed toddlers. Pair with A Seed Is Sleepy.








Classic Fiction about Gardens

5. The Gardener (Newberry, Caldecott)
Maybe not a classic but the most rigid definition, but this book is certainly award and heart winning. It is told through letters. Try planting your own seeds in a garden or window pot and write a letter to someone telling them about it!

6. The Tale of Peter Rabbit 
People aren't the only ones who enjoy food from gardens! We picked this old favorite up again when rabbits starting munching away our hard work!









Informational Books about Gardens

7. From Seed to Plant
Gail Gibbons is my go-to author for elementary non-fiction. Some content may be to difficult for preschoolers but the illustrations are colorful and informative.

8. A Seed Is Sleepy
I simply cannot get over the illustrations in this text. I am in love with them. The text is divided into large print, repetitive, phrases ("A seed is...") and smaller print detailed information. Read one or both to differentiate learning.







Cross-curricular Books about Gardens

9. Planting a Rainbow (colors)
Not all gardens grow food! Learn about colors while exploring vivid illustrations of flower variety.

10. Eating the Alphabet (letters)
While not technically a book about gardens, Lois Ehlers brings her beautiful art again to list fruits and vegetables from A-Z. What letters are on your plate?