Gr. 4^-6. Talmage's amply illustrated book is chockablock with inexpensive, easy-to-assemble gardening projects that kids can do year-round, indoors or out. Materials are listed separately, with accompanying instructions set in running text rather than in step-by-step form. Although this may slow down the production process for some youngsters, Talmage's writing style is friendly and her explanations generally easy to follow. A wide variety of garden activities are included, from forcing bulbs and propagating plants from cuttings and seeds to planting tomatoes in outdoor tubs and cultivating an indoor container mushroom farm. Some skill with scissors, knives, etc., is assumed. Photos are occasionally too small or cropped so oddly they don't make sense, but readers will be attracted by the numerous pictures of their peers having fun and earnestly involved in gardening adventures. --Stephanie Zvirin

Gr 4-8‘This lively and inviting gardening book gives directions for 20 beginning projects. Great imagination is displayed, as readers are invited to use old sneakers, toys, watermelon rinds, etc. Novelty does not obscure the basics of good gardening, however; the importance of good drainage and the best mixture of soil are discussed, as are how to get the best plants and supplies for your money. Unusual subjects are introduced, such as growing mushrooms, making an insect-repellent pet collar out of herbs, and making a floral sundial out of an old tire. Each project is explained clearly in two or three pages, and is illustrated with helpful full-color photographs that show boys and girls of various ethnic backgrounds enjoying their work. An illustrated list of "Plants to Know and Grow" is included, as are notes on supplies. This fine book has such a variety of ideas that it could be attractive to readers with many different interests.‘Carolyn Jenks, First Parish Unitarian Church, Portland, ME (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Suggestions for growing plants in containers range from straightforward to slightly goofy projects. The persistent reader will find a lot of information in the wordy text and rather crowded pages. Amateurish color photographs add detail but contribute to the clutter. A short catalog of plants and their characteristics is included at the back of the book. Glos., ind. From HORN BOOK 1996, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This how-to-do-it book promises a lot of fun for young gardeners and is just as grand for spectators. Clear and concise instructions for 25 container projects are augmented by excellent full-color photographs; the book's special charms are provided by the containers themselves. Tired of cracked and crummy-looking terra cotta? Too poor for expensive ceramic containers? Hate plastic in all forms, especially unrecyclable plant holders? Children will follow the author's advice and let their imaginations run riot. Asters show up in hightop sneakers, blooms take root in a hollowed-out pumpkin and a watermelon, and marigolds settle into old toy dump trucks and boats. As clever as Talmage is, however, she also includes the basic information on the fundamental techniques of gardening: starting seeds, propagating, rooting, dividing, watering, fertilizing, forcing bulbs, miniature gardening, even growing mushrooms. There's a section on plants to know and grow, and notes about supplies for the neophyte. A great introduction to gardening, no matter how much or how little space or money children have to work with; Talmage may plant readers on the path to a lifelong interest in growing things. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)