This week, our Discover & Explore feature is Gardening with Kids.
We can’t wait to see all of your fun ideas & projects as we enter gardening season!
Not only is gardening a fun family activity, it’s also a wonderful way to learn about science, nature and math. And kids really enjoy digging in the dirt, watching plants grow and then eating what they’ve harvested!
A few weeks ago, I shared ideas for 30 Gardening Activities for Kids to encourage them to get out and dig in the dirt.
Today I thought I would share some fun books about growing plants and gardens. Whether you’re hoping to plant a full vegetable garden or some beautiful pots of flowers, connecting your gardening activity to a story is a great way to begin.
Updated: We added a few more fun reads to the list this year along with affiliate links so you can check out each of the selections.
Gardening Books for Kids
One of the reasons that I enjoy this book so much is because it focuses on having a vision for your garden. In the story, a young boy named Liam finds a neglected garden and decides to nurse it back to it’s glory. The garden then grows and expands (as plants tend to do) throughout the city to brighten all the dark corners.
When any of us being a garden, we are faced with an empty pot or plot of dirt — it’s the vision we have for it that encourges us to plant, tend and enjoy. For kids ages 3 – 7.
If you’re planning to plant flowers, this is a must read for the kids! With bright colors and simple text, this story shares the excitement that comes with planning, planting and growing a garden. For kids ages 3 – 8.
The Gardener is another wonderful story about how a child can make a difference by growing a garden. Lydia Grace is sent to visit her uncle who lives in the city. But Lydia Grace is a gardener and the city is not a very colorful place. So she sets out to create a beautiful space to share with her uncle and their neighbors. For kids ages 4 – 8.
Oh Say Can You Seed?: All About Flowering Plants (Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library)
We love the Cat in the Hat Learning Library in our house! These are wonderful books that introduce non-fiction topics (such as gardens and plants) by using the familiar characters from the Cat in the Hat series. In this book, kids will learn about the various parts of a plant, how a seed develops, the basics of photosynthesis and how pollination occurs. For kids ages 4 – 10.
Related Post: 40 Habitat Projects with the Cat in the Hat books
The Carrot Seed 60th Anniversary Edition
A classic story that’s now 60 years old! Your child’s grandparents may remember this book 🙂 This is a timeless story of perserverance and faith — when a young boy plants a seed, everyone tells him it won’t grow. But he knows that it will so he waters the seed, pulls the weeds and is patient. A wonderful book for kids! For kids ages 2 – 7.
Little Critter: A Green, Green Garden (My First I Can Read)
I always love to find ER (Easy Readers) books on new topics for the kids (and truth be told, we’re big fans of the funny antics of Little Critter). I love some of the real-life experiences expressed in the simple words and wonderful illustrations in this book — choosing too many seeds, a trip to the garden store, the waiting (oh, the waiting). A great story for kids learning to read or even as a read aloud for younger children. For ages 2 – 7.
If you’re kids enjoy non-fiction books, this is an excellent one for gardening. From Plant to Seed does a wonderful job of explaining the process of plant growth with clear labels and simple facts. Gail Gibbons is a master at making non-fiction fun and understandable for kids! For kids ages 6 – 10.
The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds: A Book About How Living Things Grow 
Beep, Beep! Ms. Frizzle and the class are planting a garden and take a great field trip into a flower. Kids will enjoy the comical text that accompanies the great information about how plants grow. For kids ages 5 – 9.
Another favorite in our house are the First Discovery Look-and-Learn books! These books always have beautiful illustrations and bright colors. In this non-fiction book, some of the pages fold out into a panoramic picture. Kids will enjoy exploring different types of gardens and plants as they explore the pages. For kids ages 3 – 7.
The Good Garden: How One Family Went from Hunger to Having Enough 
This is an inspiring story about a family in Honduras who is able to build a life because of their garden. It’s especially good for older kids as they’ll learn how sustainable gardening is helping many to eat better around the world. Highly recommended for kids ages 8 – teenagers.
More Gardening Activities for Kids
Get Ready for Garden Season: 30 Crafts & Activities
Books & Activities that Explore Plants and Seeds
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- Share family-friendly posts related to the weekly topic — kids activities, crafts, recipes, nature outings, printables, etc.
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30 Gardening Activities for Kids