Book-A-Day 6: In the Garden with Dr. Carver

In the Garden with Dr. Carver

written by: Susan Grigsby

Illustrated by: Nicole Tadgell

I was very excited about this book when I read it!  It is an historical fiction picture book that tells the story of George Washington Carver and his visit to a small town to help teach the locals about plants and using them to fit needs within the community.  However, the majority of the story focuses on Dr. Carver's visit to the local school and working with the students to create and care for their own school garden.  

I immediately began making connections to how this book could be used to support our work with students at Northside.  The very nature of Dr. Carver's work with the students was Project Based Learning using the inquiry process.  The students were forming hypothesis, testing their assumptions and digging (literally) into the learning to think and grow.  And with our very own school garden at Northside, our students will be learning very much the same way.  What a wonderful book to encourage excitement about our own school garden while simultaneously learning about an important man and scientist from the past.  

To learn more about Dr. George Washington Carver click here. 

The pictures in this book were illustrated by African American artist/illustrator Nicole Tagdell.  She has illustrated a number of books for children, several of which we have in our Northside library collection.   Click here to learn more about her.