Benjamin Grows a Garden

A book that is perfect for the spring through the fall, Benjamin Grows a Garden by Melanie Florence and Hawlii Pichette invites readers to learn about the Three Sisters.

Benjamin’s favourite season is the spring. The spring is when he plants a garden with his mom. They carefully plant the seeds and care for the garden so that they can share the harvest with family and friends.

Melanie Florence invites readers into the Indigenous method of growing corn, beans and squash together where the crops can benefit each other and grow in harmony together. The corn is planted first, then the beans, which will use the corn stalks to climb towards the sun, then the squash, whose big leaves will keep the ground cool and moist. Through Benjamin and his mother’s planting, readers can create their own Three Sister garden to see how the plants can grow in harmony.

I love how this story can bridge the seasons between spring and fall. It’s a wonderful book to introduce gardening to young readers or even a trip to the farmer’s market in the summer and fall to try all of the delicious vegetables Benjamin grows. Melanie Florence incorporates the Cree words for all of the vegetables as well as Cree phrases throughout the story, inviting readers to learn more about a new language and/or to preserve the language for future generations.

Hawaii Pichette’s illustrations are immersive. It was so easy to jump into Benjamin’s story and be a part of the planting, growing and harvesting process. Her Woodland style artwork perfectly reflects the growing season and the different plants that Benjamin and his mother are growing. The bold, vibrant illustrations signal to the reader the importance of the garden and how it can be used as a way to provide community care.