Picture Book Review: BADGER'S PERFECT GARDEN

BADGER'S PERFECT GARDEN by Marsha Diane Arnold, illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki, is a perfect little book. Well, it's about as close to perfect as a picture book can get.

BADGER'S PERFECT GARDEN
by Marsha Diane Arnold
illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki
Sleeping Bear Press

Badger has been waiting all year to plant the perfect garden with seeds he gathered in the summer and saved in jars over the winter. With the help of his friends, he clears an area, then makes neat little rows. And together, the friends carefully plant the seeds, being sure to keep similar seeds together. "Bumpy seeds in this row. Round ones here. Keep the whirlies together!" After a lot of work, the garden is planted, and Badger and his friends celebrate with muffins and mulberry juice. When fierce rains come and wash Badger's perfectly planted seeds away, he is so sad that nothing can cheer him up. He'll have to start all over and wait until NEXT year for his perfect garden.

Or will he?

BADGER'S PERFECT GARDEN, with its charming text and soft, glowing illustrations, is a delightful story about friendship, hard work, and dealing with disappointment. But more than that, it's a story about how sometimes, when things seem to be ruined, they are really only different. And different can be its own kind of perfect. 

It's a perfect story to share with anyone at any time, but especially with a little gardener at springtime. Perhaps it will inspire you and your little helpers to plant your own perfect garden!