Thank You, Garden

Four garden plots placed on a city block are planted, worked on, enjoyed, and appreciated by a diverse community in both age, race, and ethnicity. Children play with toy cars around the garden, explore the soil and growing plants, and help water, weed, and pick the produce. Shin’s illustrations beautifully display the development of the garden and its community, beginning with the gardeners’ hard work to plant the plots, then the effort to care for the garden, their patience as they wait for growth, and finally the exciting day of enjoying the fruits—or vegetables—of their labors with a bounteous spread of produce. The garden’s placement on a city block paints the garden as being easily accessible and an idyllic slice of heaven. It is portrayed through the illustrations from the view of an onlooker as well as that of a garden participant, matching the community’s eyes both passing their garden on while walking and muddying their shoes while watering their plants. While the amount of text is on the light side, perhaps more reminiscent of a board book, its flowing stanzas coupled with engaging illustrations (with delightful details like the garden gnome!) elevates the book. As its title suggests, an overarching message of gratitude permeates the story—both gratitude for community and an abundant garden.