This story begins with a little girl who is angry with her grandfather for making her work in the garden. Grandpa tells her a story about the night the garden ran away. Her quiet time with Grandpa on the squeaky porch swing changes her perspective about the garden and Grandpa. "The Runaway Garden" is an adventurous, entertaining, and amusing story that teaches children that the grass is not always greener on the other side. It also presents a simple message about responsibility. I enjoy Jeffery Schatzer's subtle and humorous references to each vegetable's individuality. For example: "The potatoes all just closed their eyes and took off out the gate. All the green peas split for town; the tomatoes stewed and stirred. Celery and her friend sweet corn stalked off without a word." . . . "Some pumpkins got themselves squashed flat, and radishes all turned red. Pepper popped, snap beans snapped, and a cauliflower lost its head." The illustrations in this book are top notch. Jeffrey Ebbeler whimsically brings the vegetables to life with a gentle touch of humor thrown in here and there. Each illustration offers a healthy feast for both children's and adult's eyes. This book is entertaining for all ages and has the added bonus of piquing children's interests in vegetables. |