Children's Book Review for Around the Garden We GROW by Florence Ogunlesi, Sarah Ganginis, Aurelio Del Pino (illustrator)

Around the Garden We GROW by Florence Ogunlesi, Sarah Ganginis, Aurelio Del Pino (illustrator)

Published:  February 4, 2025 by Blue Balloon Books

Taken from Amazon:  Respect means that we value and accept others. It is important to respect the food choices and traditions of all humans.

Come explore community gardens, farmers’ markets, grocery stores, and more to discover what it means to be part of a community that thrives on growth! Around the Garden We GROW is perfect for curious young readers with an appetite for making sense of the world around them. With empathy and inclusivity, it opens up a conversation for kids to learn about food, growth, and respect. Its emphasis on encouraging curiosity, respecting food choices and cultures, understanding access to food, and embracing size diversity will follow readers far beyond their backyard for years to come. Whether you explore Around the Garden We GROW in parts or as a whole, it’s a great resource for parents, caregivers, teachers, and young readers themselves.

 

My Thoughts: *Around the Garden We GROW* is an excellent resource for teaching children about gardening and fruits and vegetables. The story is clear, and it vividly describes the colors, tastes, and textures of various produce. The book's four sections provide great stopping points for discussion. Don't miss section four with its recipes.

The illustrations showcased a diverse array of characters, ensuring that each child could identify with someone. The artwork was vibrant and visually engaging, characterized by its striking colors and layouts.  

Thank you Blue Balloon Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

 

Author Bios:

Florence Ogunlesi MA, RD, LDN, is a food and nutrition expert. Her years of experience have taken her through various areas in the nutrition field, from working with patients of all ages in acute care hospitals to working in home care providing nutrition education to individuals under the Ryan White grant in Brooklyn, New York. Florence shares her passion for nutrition and culinary arts with clients eager to optimize their nutrition intake.

Sarah Ganginis MS, RD, LDN, is an anti-diet dietitian and advocate for respecting size diversity. She has advocated, volunteered, and made changes to the health curriculum in Maryland, where she lives and where she has a private practice. Sarah’s passion is to change the landscape of health and nutrition education, a change that embraces size diversity and promotes curiosity and respect—rather than shame, guilt, and judgment—when it comes to food and nutrition.

Florence and Sarah have been friends and colleagues for over ten years. Both mothers and dietitians, they are experts in nutrition education with experience in eating disorder treatment, feeding kids, selective eating, and big picture health for all ages.

Illustrator Bio:

Aurelio Del Pino is the nephew and godson of Sarah Ganginis and was fourteen years old at the time the initial illustrations were created. Aurelio loves playing basketball, making music, and skiing.