A Packet of Seeds

Written by Deborah Hopkinson · Illustrated by Bethanne Andersen

A girl seeks to bring joy to her homesick mother with a special garden.

4.0 Goodreads · 169 ratings

32 pages· 1,532 words· Est. 12 min read-aloud· 590L

$16.89Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

On the dusty prairie, Anna's mother longs for the life she left behind. Determined to see her smile again, Anna enlists her brother Jim and their father to create a garden reminiscent of home. As they prepare the soil, a forgotten gift—a packet of seeds—offers hope. Will this small gesture be enough to lift her mother's spirits and bring a touch of the past to their new frontier life?

From the publisher

I knew Momma wouldn’t ask Pa to leave this new land . . . but I wondered if I’d ever see her smile again. “ Standing on the dry and dusty prairie, all Pa can see is the promise of the new land before him. All Momma can feel is the sorrow of leaving everything behind to live the life of a pioneer. Annie thinks she knows what will make Momma happy again: a flower garden like the one back home. With Pa’s help, Annie and her little brother Jim clear a patch of earth. And when Momma sees the plot of land ready for planting, she remembers something her sister gave her for the journey – packets of seeds tied with a lavender ribbon. Deborah Hopkinson’s tender tribute to the brave women and children who traveled west on the prairies is accompanied by Bethanne Andersen’s lush and evocative illustrations.

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