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The Garden We Share
To everything there is a season in this beautiful story about gardening, seasons, and treasured memories.
This inspiring picture book written by Zoë Tucker and illustrated by Julianna Swaney—the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines—celebrates the friendship between a young girl and an elderly woman as they plant seeds in a community garden alongside friends and neighbors, waiting for the seeds to flower. By mid-summer, the friends welcome a rainbow of color in the garden and picnics in the sun. At harvest, the young girl’s elderly friend is bed-ridden, but jubilant as they share baskets with red tomatoes and snap peas amid the sweet smell of lavender. When the last leaves fall, everything is different. But in the spring, hope arises anew.
This inspiring picture book written by Zoë Tucker and illustrated by Julianna Swaney—the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines—celebrates the friendship between a young girl and an elderly woman as they plant seeds in a community garden alongside friends and neighbors, waiting for the seeds to flower. By mid-summer, the friends welcome a rainbow of color in the garden and picnics in the sun. At harvest, the young girl’s elderly friend is bed-ridden, but jubilant as they share baskets with red tomatoes and snap peas amid the sweet smell of lavender. When the last leaves fall, everything is different. But in the spring, hope arises anew.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2022
137 people want to read
About the author
Zoë Tucker
7 books12 followersZoë Tucker is passionate about picture books. Working as an art director and designer, she has the opportunity to work with authors, artists, and publishers from all over the world. Zoë lives and works on the south coast of England with her husband, Adam, and a cat called Murray. She is the author of many children's books, including Greta and the Giants and Ada and the Number-Crunching Machine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
January 6, 2022
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
The Garden We Share is a beautifully illustrated book about a girl and her grandmother who are very close and share a hobby of growing vegetables. The girls grandmother teaches her all she knows and they love their time together. But when autumn comes, the girl is without her grandmother anymore but she remembers all her grandmother taught and showed her and she continues on doing what they always did together and feels her presence all around her, bringing her closer to her grandmother again.
This was such a gentle but moving short story for children about loss acceptance and healing.
The Garden We Share is a beautifully illustrated book about a girl and her grandmother who are very close and share a hobby of growing vegetables. The girls grandmother teaches her all she knows and they love their time together. But when autumn comes, the girl is without her grandmother anymore but she remembers all her grandmother taught and showed her and she continues on doing what they always did together and feels her presence all around her, bringing her closer to her grandmother again.
This was such a gentle but moving short story for children about loss acceptance and healing.
November 13, 2021
Closer to nature and closer to grandmas;
Fun to read, nostalgic and frolic;
I very much adore this little book of hope and wonder.
Dear artist, you have done such an awesome job. The art and the colours are subtle yet I am here for it. All the coziness this winter needs is right here in this picture book.
We need more of such books!
Thank you, author/artist for the advance reading copy.
Fun to read, nostalgic and frolic;
I very much adore this little book of hope and wonder.
Dear artist, you have done such an awesome job. The art and the colours are subtle yet I am here for it. All the coziness this winter needs is right here in this picture book.
We need more of such books!
Thank you, author/artist for the advance reading copy.
October 24, 2021
4.5 Stars
The book started on a sweet note with a little girl and her granny planting seeds. They nurture the garden with loads of love and share the bounty with others. They collect the seeds and pack them for next spring. However, autumn brings an unexpected change. The kid continues the tradition and waits to feel the same as she did before.
The book is about love, families, nurturing, patience, loss, handling grief, and finding joy in nature. The illustrations are soft and soothing. They have a dreamlike quality to them. I didn’t expect such a twist in the second half or the comforting ending.
The story and the illustrations managed to give so much to the reader in a few pages. Just beautiful!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and NorthSouth Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#TheGardenWeShare #NetGalley
The book started on a sweet note with a little girl and her granny planting seeds. They nurture the garden with loads of love and share the bounty with others. They collect the seeds and pack them for next spring. However, autumn brings an unexpected change. The kid continues the tradition and waits to feel the same as she did before.
The book is about love, families, nurturing, patience, loss, handling grief, and finding joy in nature. The illustrations are soft and soothing. They have a dreamlike quality to them. I didn’t expect such a twist in the second half or the comforting ending.
The story and the illustrations managed to give so much to the reader in a few pages. Just beautiful!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and NorthSouth Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#TheGardenWeShare #NetGalley
February 26, 2022
The Garden We Share is a beautifully illustrated book about a girl and her elderly neighbour/friend who share a love of gardening. They plant seeds in a community garden early in the season and nurture it together. As the plants grow, they create a lovely space where the community can spend time and share the bounty from the garden. The young girl learns from her friend and they love their time together. But when autumn comes, more than just the garden changes, their are changes in the lives of people as well, and the little girl continues on, grateful for the memories of gardening with her friend.
This is a story about gardening, nature, seasons, friendship, and sharing as well as loss, acceptance, and healing. I love intergenerational picture books to show children the value of older relatives, friends and neighbours. Zoë Tucker uses beautifully descriptive language helping to picture the flourishing garden full of flowers and vegetables. Then Swaney Julianna adds illustrations, done in a warm colour palette, to perfectly complement to the text. This is a wonderful book for a family library to share gardening, time spent with older relatives as well as dealing with grief. I also recommend this book to schools and teachers as there is so much to discuss and use as a jumping off point. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
This is a story about gardening, nature, seasons, friendship, and sharing as well as loss, acceptance, and healing. I love intergenerational picture books to show children the value of older relatives, friends and neighbours. Zoë Tucker uses beautifully descriptive language helping to picture the flourishing garden full of flowers and vegetables. Then Swaney Julianna adds illustrations, done in a warm colour palette, to perfectly complement to the text. This is a wonderful book for a family library to share gardening, time spent with older relatives as well as dealing with grief. I also recommend this book to schools and teachers as there is so much to discuss and use as a jumping off point. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
October 30, 2021
This is a gentle picture book about gardening, the seasons, and intergenerational friendship. A little girl helps her elderly friend plant seeds in the garden early in the year. As they nurture their garden, the plants grow and create a lovely space where the community can spend time and share the bounty. As the year cycles back around to the beginning, there are changes in people's lives... but the little girl continues on, grateful for the memories of gardening with her friend.
I really enjoyed the descriptive language used here, which evokes a lush and abundant garden full of all sorts of wonderful things to share with the community. The illustrations, largely done in a warm colour palette, are the perfect complement to the text. I'm not sure how much appeal this will have to kids looking for an engaging story, but I can see the value of a book like this in a classroom, especially accompanying teaching about gardening or seasons.
Thank you to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for providing a digital ARC.
I really enjoyed the descriptive language used here, which evokes a lush and abundant garden full of all sorts of wonderful things to share with the community. The illustrations, largely done in a warm colour palette, are the perfect complement to the text. I'm not sure how much appeal this will have to kids looking for an engaging story, but I can see the value of a book like this in a classroom, especially accompanying teaching about gardening or seasons.
Thank you to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for providing a digital ARC.
December 6, 2021
5 ⭐️ // Originally, I was drawn to this children’s book as I recognized the illustrator’s talent from We Are Gardeners by Joanna Gaines.
The author, Zoë Tucker, did a beautiful job of telling the story of how gardens grow throughout the seasons, but there should be a trigger warning for readers as one of the elderly ladies passes away. However, the author does a great job showing how we can honor our loved ones by remembering what they’ve taught us.
Just like We Are Gardener’s, the illustrator, Julianna Swaney, showed their artistic talents in each page. They really brought the story to life, and I enjoyed the diversity of the individuals pictured.
I would recommend this book to anyone, and I will be purchasing it for my friends who have young children.
Thank you NetGalley and NorthSouth Books Inc., for providing me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The author, Zoë Tucker, did a beautiful job of telling the story of how gardens grow throughout the seasons, but there should be a trigger warning for readers as one of the elderly ladies passes away. However, the author does a great job showing how we can honor our loved ones by remembering what they’ve taught us.
Just like We Are Gardener’s, the illustrator, Julianna Swaney, showed their artistic talents in each page. They really brought the story to life, and I enjoyed the diversity of the individuals pictured.
I would recommend this book to anyone, and I will be purchasing it for my friends who have young children.
Thank you NetGalley and NorthSouth Books Inc., for providing me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 20, 2022
Oh my. With strokes of genius, the author uses the love of sowing seeds in a garden & watching those seeds come to life to represent the circle of life in a subtle almost joyful way. And with gentle strokes & softly colored artwork that brings life to the story, the illustrator creates refreshing new ways to embrace the life, death, and so much more.
Equally charming is the font used in the book. I couldn't find the style name (picture books often include that info on the verso page), but it added to the 'gentle' feel of the story making the words almost disappear on the page & yet still command the reader's attention.
Equally charming is the font used in the book. I couldn't find the style name (picture books often include that info on the verso page), but it added to the 'gentle' feel of the story making the words almost disappear on the page & yet still command the reader's attention.
December 7, 2021
What a gorgeous book with such a moving story!
The Garden We Share is such a beautifully illustrated book, which actually draws me to pick it up—reading the story made this book even more moving. The tone of the book flows beautifully and delivers its point well. It adeptly focuses on how the cycle of nature and life is comparable. It deals with loss in such an uplifting and hopeful way, and it’s a book I recommend reading to kids who have lost someone special.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy to review in exchange for honest feedback!
The Garden We Share is such a beautifully illustrated book, which actually draws me to pick it up—reading the story made this book even more moving. The tone of the book flows beautifully and delivers its point well. It adeptly focuses on how the cycle of nature and life is comparable. It deals with loss in such an uplifting and hopeful way, and it’s a book I recommend reading to kids who have lost someone special.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy to review in exchange for honest feedback!
February 14, 2022
What a gorgeous little book this is. It is brightly colorful, tells a lovely little story, and unexpectedly made me weep. Grief is a funny thing isn't it? I think the note at the end of the book says it all: "A tender story about gardening, loss, and treasured memories - reminding us that hope springs anew." That is it in a nutshell. This will offer many opportunities to talk about memories and loss and shared activities.
This was quite simply, the book I didn't know I needed right now. ♥
Thank you to NetGalley, Zoe Tucker, Julianna Swaney [Illustrator], and NorthSouth Books Inc. for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was quite simply, the book I didn't know I needed right now. ♥
Thank you to NetGalley, Zoe Tucker, Julianna Swaney [Illustrator], and NorthSouth Books Inc. for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2022
A lovely little story about the friendship between a child and an elderly woman, the reward of growing things in a garden, and coping with loss. Beautifully illustrated.
March 20, 2022
Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange of my honest opinion.
It really surprised me - and I did not really expect that. Extremely adorable, great to spark discussions, highly recommend.
It really surprised me - and I did not really expect that. Extremely adorable, great to spark discussions, highly recommend.
February 25, 2023
Sehr süßes Buch, auch, wenn ich mir für den Preis (15€) ein paar Seiten mehr gewünscht hätte.
July 5, 2023
Beautiful and moving. I loved the story of intergenerational friendship and shared connection through a love of gardening. The little girl and her… grandmother? and two other elderly women tend a garden from planting the seeds to harvesting and creating a feast to share. Then, “when the autumn light glows golden, the seeds drop and we collect them, wrapping each one like a secret note.” Here, we see the grandmother figure in bed – it’s so subtle, but you see that she has medication bottles on the nightstand, you feel that she is not well. The next page shows the garden bare for winter and says simply, “Petals fall, and colors fade—and you are gone.” The girl is there with the other two elderly gardeners but not her grandmother. Yet, as the spring comes again, the little girl holds the seeds, and the memories, feels the sun again you know the departed is held in memory as the now-trio plant the new year’s garden. “And as the morning air warms my heart, little shoots emerge like magic. And you are with me again.” It’s so gentle, so subtle, some of the younger picture book crowd may not even pick up on it unless loss is something they are feeling in their own life. It’s just really beautifully written and illustrated, touching and heartfelt without being cloying or trite. New at our library, it’s of my favorite picture books this year (published 2022).
March 8, 2023
Picture Book. Gardening picture books are my favorite, and I knew I had to read this one as soon as I saw the beautiful cover. The gardeners here are a young girl and 3 elderly women. The relationship between them is never explained, but it appears that perhaps one is a grandmother and the other two are the grandmother's friends. The book goes through the seasons, with spring planting, the seeds sprouting, the garden coming to life, and then harvest and saving seeds. The grandmother's health visually declines and she passes away. The granddaughter continues the tradition of gardening with the other women and is comforted by feeling her grandmother's presence when the next year's seeds sprout.
The illustrations in this book are lovely, soft and calm even when depicting the colorful summer garden. I love that the whole cycle of the garden is shown, with seed saving and preserving included. The endpapers with the homemade seed packets are adorable. The loss near the end of the story is a surprise, but I did appreciate how the girl nurtured the connection to her grandmother by continuing on in their tradition.
The illustrations in this book are lovely, soft and calm even when depicting the colorful summer garden. I love that the whole cycle of the garden is shown, with seed saving and preserving included. The endpapers with the homemade seed packets are adorable. The loss near the end of the story is a surprise, but I did appreciate how the girl nurtured the connection to her grandmother by continuing on in their tradition.
December 19, 2021
Thank you NorthSouth Books and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review!
The Garden We Share is a touching story about a little girl and an elderly woman who have formed a close bond as they care for a community garden.
I like the quiet, peaceful atmosphere the story has. I like the illustrations and all of the pretty flowers and crops grown. You see how much love and care the people of this community give to the garden as the seasons change. There’s a strong connection with nature and what they’re growing. The book is rich in color, flowers, and crops galore.
When things changed it was a punch in the feels, but I think it shows kids one way they can cope with loss, honor those they love, and the comforting power of memory. The cover is so beautiful, the colors inviting – a total cover buy!
I enjoyed reading The Garden We Share. It’s the perfect story for springtime and would make a great addition to a child’s personal library.
The Garden We Share is a touching story about a little girl and an elderly woman who have formed a close bond as they care for a community garden.
I like the quiet, peaceful atmosphere the story has. I like the illustrations and all of the pretty flowers and crops grown. You see how much love and care the people of this community give to the garden as the seasons change. There’s a strong connection with nature and what they’re growing. The book is rich in color, flowers, and crops galore.
When things changed it was a punch in the feels, but I think it shows kids one way they can cope with loss, honor those they love, and the comforting power of memory. The cover is so beautiful, the colors inviting – a total cover buy!
I enjoyed reading The Garden We Share. It’s the perfect story for springtime and would make a great addition to a child’s personal library.
November 16, 2022
I thought this would be another garden book, but it turned out to be about a tradition passed on from an elderly friend to a young girl, slow achievement, and the turning of the physical seasons as well as the seasons of life. The ache of mourning and loss, the peace that comes from carrying on shared traditions, as well as the importance of others during the process of grieving.
It is a surprisingly sweet book that touches on a complicated topic like death with delicacy and age-appropriate messages. The illustrations convey the passing of time and events without being ham-handed, and the warm color palette is surprisingly evocative.
A really lovely book up there with "The Rabbit Listened", "Granddad's Island", "Once a Shepherd", "The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden," and "Madeline Finn & the Library Dog."
It is a surprisingly sweet book that touches on a complicated topic like death with delicacy and age-appropriate messages. The illustrations convey the passing of time and events without being ham-handed, and the warm color palette is surprisingly evocative.
A really lovely book up there with "The Rabbit Listened", "Granddad's Island", "Once a Shepherd", "The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden," and "Madeline Finn & the Library Dog."
January 6, 2022
The Garden We Share
by: Zoe Tucker
Pub. date: March 22, 2022
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2022
Many thanks to NorthSouth Books, Inc, Zoe Tucker & NetGalley ,for allowing me access to this arc. I’m leaving my review voluntarily.
The Garden We Share is a beautiful story of love, loss, patience & friendship. The art is so colorful, friendly & full of life.. I love how the author uses the four seasons to describe the progression of the little girl & older woman’s time together, then the eventual passing of the older woman. This book was so well-written, using a very minimal amount of words. It’s a powerful book which I highly recommend.. 4 & 1/2 stars from me.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
#TheGardenWeShare
#NetGalley
#ZoeTucker
#NorthSouthBooks
by: Zoe Tucker
Pub. date: March 22, 2022
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2022
Many thanks to NorthSouth Books, Inc, Zoe Tucker & NetGalley ,for allowing me access to this arc. I’m leaving my review voluntarily.
The Garden We Share is a beautiful story of love, loss, patience & friendship. The art is so colorful, friendly & full of life.. I love how the author uses the four seasons to describe the progression of the little girl & older woman’s time together, then the eventual passing of the older woman. This book was so well-written, using a very minimal amount of words. It’s a powerful book which I highly recommend.. 4 & 1/2 stars from me.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
#TheGardenWeShare
#NetGalley
#ZoeTucker
#NorthSouthBooks
October 25, 2021
Opening this book always makes me smile. What gorgeous colours and illustrations!
My daughter is only 3.5 years old but she's a natural born gardener, just like her grandmother (and mother), so this is a perfect picture book for our family. The Garden We Share is about the seasons, the magics of nature and the cycle of life; about a garden we share with others, i.e. a community garden, and a gardening experience a little girl is sharing with her grandmother.
I just love this visual world with the vivid colours, the blooming flowers and the cute vegetables.
Many thanks to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for an Advance Review Copy.
My daughter is only 3.5 years old but she's a natural born gardener, just like her grandmother (and mother), so this is a perfect picture book for our family. The Garden We Share is about the seasons, the magics of nature and the cycle of life; about a garden we share with others, i.e. a community garden, and a gardening experience a little girl is sharing with her grandmother.
I just love this visual world with the vivid colours, the blooming flowers and the cute vegetables.
Many thanks to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for an Advance Review Copy.
January 6, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for the e-ARC to read and review. This is a beautiful story that has been clearly created and lovingly crafted by people who love to garden - and not only for the flowers and veggies we harvest. With poetic lines and stunning illustrations, this book reminds us that simple seeds can tell a story, because they connect us to the past, hold promise for the future, and require care and patience to get there along the way. Seeds can also connect generations: in this book, a little one with her grandma - but also to our ancestors and community that we plant with. This is so beautifully done.
October 25, 2021
A beautifully written and illustrated book that looks at the relationship between an old lady and a child and the
natural changes of our world. Through the cycle of seed to blooms and then back to seed, the life cycle of
family is seen as in the case of a granddaughter continuing after the death of her gardener grandmother..
A thought-provoking and sensitive tale told in a wonderful way. We need to appreciate what we have, be patient
and enjoy all the sights and smells while we can.
natural changes of our world. Through the cycle of seed to blooms and then back to seed, the life cycle of
family is seen as in the case of a granddaughter continuing after the death of her gardener grandmother..
A thought-provoking and sensitive tale told in a wonderful way. We need to appreciate what we have, be patient
and enjoy all the sights and smells while we can.
October 25, 2021
Well this story of a year in the life of a girl's allotment in a communal garden is rather pacey, jumping months with every page-turn, and it might not quite hit the heights when it comes to selling the idea of gardening to all-comers, but it's an attractive read, and it manages to do something completely different by the end, too. Short, lyrical sections of text will not divert the young from their vegetable patch for too long, especially when gardening is presented as social and sociable as it is here.
January 16, 2022
Thank you to the North South Books and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this beautiful book. This is a lovely, nostalgic story about a little girl and an older lady (possibly her grandma) and their shared love of gardening. When the older lady passed away, the girl remembered what the older lady taught her about gardening and she repeats the process to feel closer to her special friend. Beautiful illustrations, bright colors, and lyrical language make this book great for sharing.
April 28, 2022
Beautifully illustrated and sweetly and poetically narrated. Little girl and older woman share a special relationship in a tiny city garden. Their love for growing green life expands their world. As the plants grow, the older woman weakens...and the inevitable cycle of life takes a sad turn. However, the cycle of growing and planting sustains the young girl as she matures, and has help from the other women in her community as they honor their departed companion by continuing to celebrate the joy of growing life.
October 30, 2022
The book description says it well ...
"To everything there is a season... A tender story about gardening, loss, and treasured memories - reminding us that hope springs anew."
Yes, this is a gardening book, but it's so much more! It's about friendships between a young girl and an elderly friends. It's about caring and loving friends, flowers, plants, and seeds. It's about loss and growth and memories. This is a sweet, lovely, and quietly strong story for all ages.
Reviewed from a library copy.
"To everything there is a season... A tender story about gardening, loss, and treasured memories - reminding us that hope springs anew."
Yes, this is a gardening book, but it's so much more! It's about friendships between a young girl and an elderly friends. It's about caring and loving friends, flowers, plants, and seeds. It's about loss and growth and memories. This is a sweet, lovely, and quietly strong story for all ages.
Reviewed from a library copy.
March 3, 2023
It's a sweet book about a girl working at a community garden with her grandma. The text and illustrations were fine but did not draw in my 5yo son. My son loves to garden, and it was disappointing to see no male representation in the gardens. Actually, it was disappointing to only see 3 grandma's and a girl working the garden. The text also doesn't go into much detail of actual gardening. A sweet story about a girl and her grandma and a hobby they share together, but not the best book about community gardening or gardening in general
December 9, 2021
A book about a friendship between a young girl and an elderly woman, through change of seasons while they tend the garden—a community and seasonal changes. It was an absolutely beautiful illustrated book, and it reminds us readers how life changes through its seasons. ”(…) reminding us that hope springs anew.” I would recommend this book.
4/5
I got this book for free from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
4/5
I got this book for free from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
December 11, 2021
It's about a community garden. It's about sharing and working together. It's about the cycle of life. It's about remembering. The colors of the people, clothes, flowers, and vegetable are all brilliant as are the depictions of those same things. Very well done and great for ESL! Want one for my local library!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from NorthSouth Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from NorthSouth Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
December 17, 2021
The Garden We Share is a beautiful story about two friends and their shared love for a garden and each other. With Julianna Swaney’s stunning illustrations this book is like a hug, precious and warm. Zoe’s story, although short, pulls at your heartstrings as it reminds us all of the power of community, friendship, and the value we can find in what our loved ones leave behind for us. I enjoyed this book and the message behind it. I only wish it was longer.
January 10, 2022
The Garden We Share is a simple story about gardening as the name suggests. I didn't get the plot at all, and the illustrations were dull too. I expect a children's book to be bright and colorful, and while this one had good drawings, it lacked in colors. I liked how Tucker showed the joy that comes out of growing plants and that if your garden is barren, you can try once more. Apart from this, I couldn't find other reasons to recommend this read.
February 23, 2022
The story might be a little "off to the side" for the youngest reader/listener, as it has a flowery, somber, yet hopeful tone. However, it is a lovely story of a young girl and an older woman that can be a gentle way of introduction to the cycle of life and death. I assumed this was a story of granddaughter and grandmother, but publisher description says it is about the friendship between two of different generations. Regardless, it is beautifully presented and an accessible story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews