"Up in the garden, the world is full of green--leaves and sprouts, growing vegetables, ripening fruit. But down in the dirt there is a busy world of earthworms digging, snakes hunting, skunks burrowing, and all the other animals that make a garden their home. In this exuberant book, discover the wonder and activity that lie hidden between the stalks, under the shade of leaves . . . and down in the dirt."-- - (Baker & Taylor)

A lyrical follow-up to the award-winning Over and Under the Snow explores the hidden world of a vegetable garden through the seasons of the year, revealing a thriving world of insects and animals below the surface of growing vegetables. - (Baker & Taylor)

Explores the hidden world of a vegetable garden through the seasons of the year, revealing a thriving world of insects and animals below the surface of growing vegetables. - (Baker & Taylor)

In this exuberant and lyrical addition to the award-winning Over and Under series, emerging readers will delight in discovering the wonders that lie hidden between stalks, under the shade of leaves, and down in the dirt.

From the author-illustrator team behind Over and Under the Snow and Over and Under the Pond.

Explore the secret realm beneath the dirt that brings the world of nature to life: Follow a young girl and her grandmother on a journey through the year planning, planting, and harvesting their garden—and learn about what's happening in the dirt to help make it all happen.
 
Up in the garden, the world is full of green—leaves and sprouts, growing vegetables, ripening fruit. But down in the dirt exists a busy world—earthworms dig, snakes hunt, skunks burrow—populated by all the creatures that make a garden their home.
 
These secrets and many others are waiting to be discovered up in the garden and down in the dirt in this sweet children’s book from Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal, the latest in their beloved series that offers kids a peek into hidden ecosystems.

ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL: Beautiful illustrations paired with an easy-to-follow storyline make this a great read for any early elementary school student, while a glossary of animals that live in, around, and under the garden enriches the reading experience.

INSPIRES A LOVE A NATURE: Offering a look inside a hidden and bustling underground ecosystem, this gorgeously illustrated book encourages children to explore the world around them and appreciate the natural wonders they discover.
 
A FIVE-STAR FAVORITE OF READERS & REVIEWERS: "The harmonious relationships above and below ground, and those between the two, emphasize the complexities of the garden ecosystem, as well as the joys of sustained engagement with the land."—The Horn Book Magazine; "Offers excellent coming attractions for what youngsters can expect when they try to grow something." —Reading Today

Perfect for:

• A great read-aloud book for home or school
• Parents looking for enchanting bedtime reads or nature books for kids
• Fans of books like A Different Pond, A Seed is Sleepy, An Egg Is Quiet, Because of an Acorn, and Over and Under the Rainforest and others in the Over and Under series
• Any kid who loves picture books about science, nature, or animals

In this exuberant and lyrical follow-up to the award-winning Over and Under the Snow, discover the wonders that lie hidden between stalks, under the shade of leaves . . . and down in the dirt.

Explore the secret world beneath the dirt that brings the world of nature to life: Up in the garden, the world is full of green'leaves and sprouts, growing vegetables, ripening fruit. But down in the dirt exists a busy world'earthworms dig, snakes hunt, skunks burrow'populated by all the animals that make a garden their home. With Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, you can explore the hidden world and many lives of a garden through the course of a year!

" Follow a young girl and her grandmother as they journey through the year planning, planting, and harvesting their garden'and learn about what's happening in the dirt to help make it all happen
" The stunning and bright illustrations feature dark earthy tones mixed with beautiful pops of color inspire a love of nature and encourage young minds to explore the world around them
" Includes a glossary of animals that live in, around, and under the garden to enrich the reading experience

Fans of A Seed is Sleepy, Spring is Here, and A Nest is Noisy will also love the outstanding illustrations and educational storyline in Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt.

"The harmonious relationships above and below ground, and those between the two, emphasize the complexities of the garden ecosystem, as well as the joys of sustained engagement with the land." 'The Horn Book Magazine

" Great read-aloud book for families and classrooms
" Books for kids ages 5-8
" Early elementary school books
" Books for kindergarten to 3rd grade - (Grand Central Pub)

Horn Book Guide Reviews

Messner and Neal (Over and Under the Snow) bring their above-and-below perspective to a garden's transformation from spring through autumn. Repetition of the title phrases and alternating visual perspectives portray a child and her gardener grandmother working above ground as worms and insects parallel their efforts below. Muted greens and browns provide tonal symmetry to illustrations teeming with life and underscore connections among organisms. Reading list.

Horn Book Magazine Reviews

Messner and Neal, collaborators on the excellent Over and Under the Snow (rev. 1/12), bring their above-and-below perspective to a well-tended garden as it is transformed from early spring through late autumn. A child and her hardy gardener grandmother spend long hours at work and play above ground, while parallel efforts below, the preparation and maintenance of the soil, are the responsibility of worms and insects. Through the text's repetition of the title phrases and the illustrations' alternating visual perspectives, readers swoop up and down: down to examine seeds as they germinate in the critter-filled soil, then up to see plants emerge and birds, insects, and humans interact with leaves and fruit as they grow. The harmonious relationships above and below ground, and those between the two, emphasize the complexities of the garden ecosystem, as well as the joys of sustained engagement with the land. Neal's art is stunning, with muted greens and soft browns providing tonal symmetry to illustrations teeming with plant and animal life, and further underscoring the connections among all living organisms in the environment. danielle j. for Copyright 2014 Horn Book Magazine.

School Library Journal Reviews

Gr 1–3—Beneath every garden lies a secret world down in the dirt. In this enchanting follow-up to Over and Under the Snow (Chronicle, 2011), Messner explores that underground realm. This yearlong adventure begins early in spring, with a young girl learning from her grandmother that the soil is still too cold and wet to begin planting. The pair make plans while earthworms and insects work in the dirt. As the year goes by, they tend to the garden, weeding, watering, and keeping away pests, and later harvesting vegetables. The illustrations are marked by rich brown earth tones, highlighted by brighter colors here and there (a red wheelbarrow, yellow boots) as the seasons reveal themselves slowly. Spreads detail the often unseen life all around the garden, such as a praying mantis that eats mosquitoes, pill bugs that chew through leaves, honeybees that pollinate flowers, and a garter snake that hunts grasshoppers. Neal effectively uses light and dark to show the contrast between night and day; an image of foraging rabbits by day is eventually replaced by a nighttime scene of skunks "[working] the night shift." Each page invites readers to linger over the quiet text, which gently moves the story along. Back matter includes an author's note and a complete listing of the many creatures mentioned throughout. VERDICT A beautiful, informative addition to any collection.—Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA