SPRINGTIME IS SWEET
from the bookshelf
In New Orleans, spring is fleeting, so we take full advantage of the warm weather as much as possible before the summer temperatures sink in. For those rainy days that keep you inside this May, check out these books from the New Orleans Public Library to ease the blow of being inside – some to help you appreciate homes and houses, others to make it feel like you’re still playing in that sweet springtime sun. Children Get your little ones interested in gardening with Christie Matheson’s Plant the Tiny Seed . With interactive, rhyming texts, young readers will surely want to plant their own
seeds after watching this one come to life on the page. Or, introduce them to the world with H is for Home: A Sesame Street Guide to Homes Around the World , by Karen Kenney . From square houses to round ones, or even ones on stilts, this book is a fantastic way to get kids thinking about how other cultures live with familiar characters guiding ready for more hands-on gardening, both Alexis Frederick-Frost’s Maker Comics: Grow a Garden! and Jenny Hendy’s The Best Ever Step-by-Step Kid’s First Gardening are fantastic reads that are them along the way. Middle Grade For older kids that are
sure to inspire your child’s creativity and green thumb. In Frederick-Frost’s graphic novel/DIY guide, readers follow a group of young garden gnomes as they reluctantly take a class on composting with their school’s most unpopular teacher. Along the way, they gain new perspectives and learn that sometimes, the smelliest lessons can be the most fun. Hendy won the Practical Gardening Book of the Year with her step-by- step guide, which is made up of 119 project ideas, each explained with easy-to-follow, color photographs that walk kids along the process of making their very own garden, while also teaching how plants grow.
To spark indoor creativity, pick up Room Love by Heather Wutschke , which offers 50 projects to help kids design their own space. From furniture makeovers to one-of-a-kind decor ideas, this book is a great way to encourage your kid to show off their individuality and create something of their own. Teens For teens interested in nature and sustainability, Joseph Tychonievich’s The Comic Book Guide to Growing Food is an accessible, step-by- step guide to vegetable gardening. Tychonievich’s illustrations start at the planning phase and end in harvesting – and even
provide a “cheat sheet” of key facts and techniques, for those, shall we say, less patient, teens. It’s never too early to start appreciating the amazing architecture of your city, which is why New Orleans Houses: A House- Watcher’s Guide by Lloyd Vogt is a fantastic choice for any local teen. The easy-to- follow, detailed guide helps identify and date different types of houses and places them in their historical context. This book is not only thoughtfully designed, it also offers a deeper understanding of New Orleans, its history, and the details that make our city beautiful.
Kacy Helwick is the youth collection development librarian for the New Orleans Public Library’s collections and acquisitions department. Marie Simoneaux is the media and communications coordinator for the New Orleans Public Library.
10 MAY 2023 | NOLAFAMILY.COM
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