First Garden

K-Gr 4—The author and illustrator of Bring Me Some Apples and I'll Make You a Pie (Clarion, 2009) returns with another book that celebrates the joys of gardening and sharing healthy foods with others. Beginning with an introduction to the White House and its grounds, Gourley then describes some of the children who have lived there and the ways in which they used the outdoor space. A portrait of the Obama family introduces the section on gardening for food at the White House, from John Adams in 1800 through Eleanor Roosevelt in 1943. The narrative then turns to Michelle Obama and how she invited children from nearby schools to help prepare the soil, plant, cultivate, and ultimately cook and eat the produce; how the White House chefs became involved in the process; and how food from the First Garden now helps feed the Obamas as well as people at a Washington, DC, homeless shelter. General advice on home gardening and healthy eating is provided at the end of the book, and some White House recipes are included. With many schools developing instructional gardening spaces and an overall growing awareness of the problem of childhood obesity, this book fulfills many needs. The watercolor illustrations depict diverse groups of people gardening and enjoying eating together. The fruits and vegetables look so delicious, they may well inspire a child to plant some seeds or partake of a new food. A beautiful and timely addition.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA