Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt

A young girl and her grandmother tend a garden through the seasons, planting and harvesting above ground while earthworms dig, snakes hunt, and skunks burrow in the busy hidden world beneath the dirt.

For the kid who wants to dig in the dirt as much as pick the tomatoes, this book shows there's a whole story happening underground too.

• Big idea: A garden is really two worlds working together — what grows in the sun depends on what happens in the dark.
• Vibes: Quiet, observant, and seasonal — like a slow walk through a garden with someone who notices everything.

• enjoy books about nature and animals
• like to ask what's under rocks and leaves
• are working on understanding how seasons change
• respond well to gentle, factual read-alouds

• Story & noticing: What did the girl and her grandmother do in their garden as the seasons changed?
• Nature & science: What are some of the animals living down in the dirt, and what are they doing there?
• Real-life connection: Have you ever helped plant or pick something from a garden?
• Imagination: If you could dig down into the dirt like an earthworm, what do you think you'd find?
• Compare & connect: How is the busy world under the dirt different from the world up in the garden?