Early Book Review: Gardening with Emma; Grow and Have Fun A Kid to Kid Guide by Emma Biggs, Steven Biggs

Gardening with Emma; Grow and Have Fun A Kid to Kid Guide is a non fiction guide written by thirteen year old by Emma Biggs, with some help from her father Steven Biggs. It is currently scheduled for release on February 5 2019. This book offers instruction and insight into growing healthy food and raising the coolest, most awesome plants, while making sure there’s plenty of fun. With plants that tickle and make noise, tips for how to grow a flower stand garden, and suggestions for veggies from tiny to colossal, Emma offers a range of original, practical, and entertaining advice and inspiration. She provides lots of useful know-how about soil, sowing, and caring for a garden throughout the seasons, along with ways to make play spaces among the plants. Lively photography and Emma’s own writing (with some help from her gardening dad, Steve) capture the authentic creativity of a kid who loves to be outdoors, digging in the dirt.

Gardening with Emma is a well organized, helpful, and engaging guide to gardening. I think children and their parents could benefit from the read. I like that Emma lays out why adults and children garden differently, and what might cause conflict between them. I liked her suggestion of fun plants to grow, and having a designated garden or part of a garden. Emma also gave good information about different plants and their needs, as well as the tools and tasks that are necessary.  I think that Emma's photographs and illustrations add an extra connection and sometime humorous touch that help readers connect to her and the information. My family gardened heavily when I was a kid, and I do not remember having the kind of interest and fun Emma does in the process. Hopefully this book will help inspire some young gardeners, and their parents, to kick it up a notch.

Gardening with Emma is a delightful guide, and I enjoyed the take on gardening advice. I think this is a wonder way for children to get more excited and involved in gardening, and help adults remember that excitement and why they love gardening as well.