Mrs. Rose's Garden - Hardcover

Greenstein, Elaine

3.25

20 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0689802153 ISBN 13: 9780689802157

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 1996

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Having never won anything at the County Fair, Mrs. Rose develops a special recipe and grows the largest vegetables of all, guaranteeing her a blue ribbon, but due to her generous nature, she decides to help the others so that they, too, can win a prize.

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From Publishers Weekly:

A blithe spirit pervades this beguiling tale about a gardener with a generous heart. Greenstein's (Emily and the Crows) elegantly shaded paintings whimsically portray one Matilda Rose, a dedicated vegetable gardener who "wanted to win a blue ribbon more than anything else in the world." When her special mix of fertilizer produces gargantuan vegetables sure to sweep the county fair, however, the initially delighted Mrs. Rose realizes that the fun's gone from the game, and she decides to restore it by sneaking some of her doubtlessly victorious veggies into her neighbors' less-than-stellar crops. This way, everyone's a winner?including Mrs. Rose, who takes not only the blue ribbon for the biggest pumpkin, but also a special prize from her husband for "having the biggest heart." From the thoughtful detail on the endpapers (emerging seedlings and garden tools in the front, harvested vegetables and blue ribbons in the back) to the final peek at Mrs. Rose perched demurely on her prize pumpkin, the illustrations strike a winning balance between a simplicity of composition and a luxuriantly restful texture. Start to finish, this one comes up roses. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 3?When Mrs. Rose invents a new fertilizer mix, she is sure she'll achieve her heartfelt goal?to win the county fair's blue ribbon for the biggest vegetables. But when the vegetables take on enormous proportions, she decides to share the wealth?and the prizes?with her neighbors. The plot unfolds in a simple narrative with spare dialogue. Done in muted colors, the primitive-style illustrations reveal a charming, bucolic setting that's in tune with Mrs. Rose's personality. Humorous visual touches, such as radishes that fill the dinner plates, prevent the plot from becoming too sweet, and spot art helps move the tale along. The final spreads reveal the result?neighbors with 10-foot cukes, tomatoes the size of hassocks, and Mrs. Rose comfortably perched upon a pumpkin. Young readers will laugh at the oversized images, but the message?the value of sharing?has taken to fertile ground here. Pair this book with Cynthia Rylant and Mary Szilagyi's This Year's Garden (Bradbury, 1984), another title that concludes with harvest.?Carolyn Noah, Central Mass. Regional Library System, Worcester, MA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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