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Inside the Secret Garden: A Treasury of Crafts, Recipes, and Activities
The Secret Garden , Frances Hodgson Burnett's timeless story, has been cherished by generations of readers ever since it was first published in 1912. Now, in this beautifully illustrated volume, you can step into the world of The Secret Garden. Learn all about Burnett's life and the different events and places that inspired her to write her beloved story. Discover what an English manor house was like, from the dÉcor to the gardens to the staff that kept it running smoothly. Make Mrs. Sowerby's Hot Oak-cakes, create moss-covered flower urns, and learn traditional English rope-skipping rhymes. You'll even find out how to plant your own secret garden! For everyone who loved The Secret Garden , Inside The Secret Garden brings this magical world vividly to life.
136 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 16, 2021
A wonderful resource for those who love The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I was familiar with Collins's work from The World of Little House, which I loved as a child. Inside the Secret Garden had the same delights of bringing the fictional world to life, with historical information, crafts, recipes, and activities. And of course, the inclusion of Tasha Tudor's lovely illustrations made it all the more wonderful.
Biographical sketches, timelines, maps, and contextual research help bring the unfamiliar world of the Yorkshire moors to life for modern readers. The recipes, especially, were carefully chosen to evoke the time period but also work for contemporary American readers.
I really appreciated how the gardening activities were tailored for those with "a bit of earth" and for those with only the room or inclination for a flowerpot or tabletop garden. There are other gardening activities, too, besides recreating one's own secret garden. Some of them would make charming gifts for gardening friends and relatives (twig tool holder, key wind chimes, twig trellis), and others would be feasible party activities/favors (miniature floral arrangements in teacups, skipping rope & traditional English rhymes, watering can planters).
Compared to the other Collins/Eriksson books, this one is a bit slim. I think it's because they only use The Secret Garden, while their other books are about series, providing much more material. However, they make up for the lack with lots of recipes and gardening activities; it just gets a bit same-y after a while, since there aren't many other types of hands-on activities in The Secret Garden. Tips on birdwatching and nature study would have rounded this out a bit, had the authors included them.
Overall, a really lovely resource for fans of The Secret Garden, with many delightful recipes and activities for bringing the book to life. This would make a good resource for studying the book in school, or for planning a themed party.
Biographical sketches, timelines, maps, and contextual research help bring the unfamiliar world of the Yorkshire moors to life for modern readers. The recipes, especially, were carefully chosen to evoke the time period but also work for contemporary American readers.
I really appreciated how the gardening activities were tailored for those with "a bit of earth" and for those with only the room or inclination for a flowerpot or tabletop garden. There are other gardening activities, too, besides recreating one's own secret garden. Some of them would make charming gifts for gardening friends and relatives (twig tool holder, key wind chimes, twig trellis), and others would be feasible party activities/favors (miniature floral arrangements in teacups, skipping rope & traditional English rhymes, watering can planters).
Compared to the other Collins/Eriksson books, this one is a bit slim. I think it's because they only use The Secret Garden, while their other books are about series, providing much more material. However, they make up for the lack with lots of recipes and gardening activities; it just gets a bit same-y after a while, since there aren't many other types of hands-on activities in The Secret Garden. Tips on birdwatching and nature study would have rounded this out a bit, had the authors included them.
Overall, a really lovely resource for fans of The Secret Garden, with many delightful recipes and activities for bringing the book to life. This would make a good resource for studying the book in school, or for planning a themed party.
May 17, 2020
Highly recommended to fans of the novel. Avl. on openlibrary.org.
A fairly quick read as it's so lucid and well-organized... no need to read every word of the instructions for things one won't make, but all fans of the book must, imo, at least look at every gorgeous page.
I like the ending text:
"The Secret Garden reminds us that whether we are rich or poor, privileged or neglected, nurture and careful cultivation will make the difference between a satisfying life and one that is stunted and forever struggling for air and light."
I also appreciate the extensive glossary, bibliography, and index.
I hope to make the second oat cakes, recipe on p. 72.
A fairly quick read as it's so lucid and well-organized... no need to read every word of the instructions for things one won't make, but all fans of the book must, imo, at least look at every gorgeous page.
I like the ending text:
"The Secret Garden reminds us that whether we are rich or poor, privileged or neglected, nurture and careful cultivation will make the difference between a satisfying life and one that is stunted and forever struggling for air and light."
I also appreciate the extensive glossary, bibliography, and index.
I hope to make the second oat cakes, recipe on p. 72.
January 8, 2010
So, when I was in junior high, these authors came out with the Anne of Green Gables Treasury which I devoured and was absolutely thrilled that someone was smart enough to create such a wonderful book. Since then, this team has also tackled Little Women and Little House on the Prairie, as well as adding an Anne Christmas Treasury. But somehow the Secret Garden book was missing something--not quite enough depth, maybe? Not that these are supposed to be particularly deep, but in the othes I've been able to find ideas for museum programming (now you know my secrets!) and this had nothing. But it was fun enough to make me want to reread the book, or at least rewatch the movie.
June 9, 2020
Absolutely lovely companion to The Secret Garden! This book just adds so much to the original novel from its detailed tour of Misselthwaite Manor and grounds to its comprehensive dictionary of the Yorkshire dialect and historical phrases used in the book. I loved how all its crafts, recipes, and activities were carefully connected to the original novel allowing them to truly bring the novel to life! It was the book I didn't know that I needed and a must for Secret Garden fans! Just delightful!
November 20, 2020
Totally delightful in every way. Such a fun way to enhance your reading of this classic children’s book.
October 28, 2024
Yesterday evening I finished “Inside the Secret Garden: A Treasury of Crafts, Recipes, and Activities” by Carolyn Strom Collins and Christina Wyss Eriksson, with illustrations by Tasha Tudor and Mary Collier. This is a book that talks about the history and background of our favorite (at least one of mine) “The Secret Garden”, by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
This was a charming book, and not a long read. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it, and could picture myself sharing it with granddaughters after reading the book together, trying the recipes, maybe some of the crafts, and so on. Four stars.
This was a charming book, and not a long read. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it, and could picture myself sharing it with granddaughters after reading the book together, trying the recipes, maybe some of the crafts, and so on. Four stars.
June 26, 2021
Wonderful for adults, and I guess kids too :) ! Really enjoyed the bio of Burnett and the timeline of her life. Chapter 2 with the beautiful illustrations and descriptions of Misselthwaite Manor & Gardens is lovely.
My original interest in this book was that it is illustrated by: Tasha Tudor and Mary Collier. I collect Tasha Tudor books. Tudor has a version of the Secret Garden wholly illustrated by her. Upon closer examination, the only illustrations done by Tasha Tudor in this book are on pages: i, vi, 4, 5, 119. Collier's art is very similar in style to Tudors.
My original interest in this book was that it is illustrated by: Tasha Tudor and Mary Collier. I collect Tasha Tudor books. Tudor has a version of the Secret Garden wholly illustrated by her. Upon closer examination, the only illustrations done by Tasha Tudor in this book are on pages: i, vi, 4, 5, 119. Collier's art is very similar in style to Tudors.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews