My Baba’s Garden
An ode to a special grandmother, My Baba’s Garden by Jordan Scott and Sydney Smith is a story that may make your eyes a little misty and will promote excellent conversation about special moments with grandparents.
The narrator visits his Baba everyday. She lovingly makes him breakfast and walks him to school. They collect worms on rainy days and bring them back to her lush garden, until she needs to move into his house. They still have breakfast together and he still collects worms, even if Baba can’t join him.
For the adults reading this story, it may bring a tear to your eye. Jordan Scott evokes so many emotions through his beautiful words and descriptions of his Baba and the time they spent together. It is very nostalgic and reminds me of my grandmother’s garden full of flowers of every colour and my grandfather’s tomato patch. For young readers, it will make them think of all the nice things they get to do with elders in their lives. There are readers who will have similar experiences to the author, in that communication with a grandparent is mostly through simple words, gestures and touch. Others may have completely different experiences. What is so lovely about this story is that it will promote conversation among readers, especially if shared with a large group. It can spark many remembrances of the times spent with grandparents, the loud moments and the quiet moments.
I also love the inclusion of a little bit of science in the story when the child and Baba collect the worms for their garden. This story would make a lovely introduction to life cycles and ecosystems and will hopefully promote a walk after the rain to discover all of the creatures that make themselves known after the rain.
Sydney Smith’s illustrations are complex and gorgeous. Wonderfully viewed up close and personal but even better when shared from a distance, the illustrations invite the reader into Baba’s chicken coop home and into her garden. The pictures speak volumes on the pages with no text, continuing the story and letting the reader rest in the presence of Baba and her grandson.
