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Mortimer's First Garden

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Mortimer's First Garden

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Hardcover
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Overview

Winter is just over, the sky is gray, and the ground is brown. Little Mortimer Mouse munches on sunflower seeds and longs to see something green.

Upon overhearing the story of how springtime rain and sunshine nurture little seeds to grow into great big green plants, Mortimer is skeptical but decides to plant one of his seeds, just to see if such a miracle really can happen. Mortimer finds a perfect sport to plant the seed, and then...he waits.

And waits.

And waits.

Impatient, Mortimer thinks nothing is ever going to happen to the little seed. But then something does happen. Something wonderful. Something divine. Something green!

First introduced in the bestselling Mortimer's Christmas Manger, Mortimer Mouse returns with gutso in this inspirational offering that celebrates the miracle of springtime.

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About the Author

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781416942030
Publisher:	Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication date:	02/24/2009
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	608,614
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	AD490L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Karma Wilson is the bestselling author of several picture books, including the Bear Books series; Where Is Home, Little Pip?; and A Dog Named Doug. Karma lives in Montana.

Dan Andreasen is the illustrator of numerous picture books, including By the Dawn’s Early Light: The Story of the Star-Spangled Banner by Steven Kroll, which was named an ABA Kids’ Pick of the Lists and a Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies; A Quiet Place by Douglas Wood; and Sailor Boy Jig by Margaret Wise Brown. He has also authored several picture books, including With a Little Help from Daddy and A Special Day for Mommy. Dan lives with his family in Medina, Ohio.

From the B&N Reads Blog

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Editorial Reviews

The mouse introduced in Mortimer's Christmas Manger continues on his journey of faith and enlightenment. Mortimer can't imagine that seeds have any use beyond the immediate gratification of being eaten, but when he sees the human family in his house plant a garden, he decides to use his last sunflower seed to give it a whirl himself. As in many of Wilson's books, the religious message is explicit. Convinced that "the miracle" won't happen, tempted to dig up the seed and eat it, Mortimer hears the voice of God: "Wait." "Suddenly, even though he was drenched with rain," writes Wilson, "Mortimer felt warm and protected." With hard work and prayer, Mortimer produces a "miracle" sunflower and a bumper crop of seeds, which in turn prompts the book's final teachable moment: "And please, God," says a fat and contented Mortimer, "I wouldn't mind a friend to help me eat these." Andreasen channels the style of Jane Chapman, who illustrated the previous title; the transition will go unremarked. Ages 4-8. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 2
The mouse from Mortimer's Christmas Manger (S & S, 2005) is back in a lovely story about spring and growing things. As he is staring outside at a brown landscape and wishing for green, Mortimer overhears a mother and two children talking about a "springtime miracle," discussing planting one small seed and getting back many seeds. He looks at his last precious sunflower seed and decides to plant it. Somewhat dubious about results, he waits and waits and hopes for a miracle. With a little help from God, who counsels him to be patient, Mortimer finally gets results-a tall, glorious sunflower with many seeds to gather, eat, and use for next year's garden. As he cozies down into his bed of seeds, he thanks God and prays for a friend to share his bounty with, and a smiling black spider settles down nearby. This is a beautifully fashioned picture book, with delicate pastel oil illustrations that perfectly convey the changes brought by spring. The faded tan and peach backdrops gradually transform to pale blues and greens, reflecting the warming weather. Mortimer's feelings of doubt and hope are portrayed with great appeal. A fine choice for little gardeners everywhere.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA

School Library Journal

Mortimer the mouse is just about to chomp down on his sunflower seed when he hears "the big people" who share his house talking about gardening. While he laughs at the notion of "throw[ing] perfectly good food in the dirt," he's intrigued at the notion of a "miracle" that will yield many, many more seeds, so he gives it a try. By day three, he's getting impatient, but "a gentle, quiet voice" tells him to "Wait." Recognizing the voice as God-with a theological certainty that comes like a narrative bolt out of the blue-Mortimer waits and reaps predictable dividends. Andreasen provides certifiably cute visual accompaniment to the tale, including the dubious implication that a friendly (vegetarian?) spider will help Mortimer eat his newfound seed wealth. Demands too many leaps of faith. (Picture book. 4-8)

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Mortimer's First Garden

Mortimer's First Garden

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