What the Garden Tells Me

What the Garden Tells Me invites readers to see the beauty and connections between plants and ourselves. The tone is uplifting and evokes a sense of wonder for nature. The illustrations are bright and full of life. The text complexity is perfect for preschool through lower elementary and the message appeals to older audiences as well. This little girl's love for plants may inspire others to stop and look at what is growing around us and seek the parallels to their own lives. Overall, the book is thought-provoking as it encourages us all to slow down and enjoy the beauty around us and in ourselves.

A young girl looks at the city gardens around her and uses the plants to remind herself of important things in her life. The sunny day Lillie's remind her to feel joy, and the willow tree branches are like her hair, so remind her to love herself. Yellow lion's-ears encourage her to listen, polka-dot plants are similar to her freckles, of which she is proud, and the water lilies rise up from the mud and encourage her to believe in herself. There are many other beautiful plants in the garden, and the girl tries to take wisdom from all of the different plants, and to remember that joy can be found in unexpected places.