This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
There is something very comforting about a garden. It doesn’t have to be prim and proper, a picture-perfect design of matching rows of colors. The wilder, the better. Mrs. Church has a lovely garden. It’s a bit wild, but well-trimmed and cared for, complete with an orange tree, a plum tree, a cherry tree, roses, irises, orchids and a charming pond with its own giant bullfrog to keep Mrs. Church company. Mrs. Church takes such good care of her garden and is often seen fussing around pruning, trimming and watering. The entire community marvels at Mrs. Church’s charming garden. But one day, Mrs. Church injures herself and she’s no longer able to care for the garden. The result is a wild growth that turns the community away in disgust. But a young girl, JR, takes it upon herself to start pruning the overgrown garden. The community comes together and follows JR’s example, pitching in to help keep the garden well cared for, so, when Mrs. Church returns from the hospital, she can sit on the garden bench and enjoy her garden as it should be.
Author ej Ndeto’s picture book story, Mrs. Church’s Garden, will warm the hearts of readers young and old. Anyone who loves gardening and understands the soothing balm of a well-cared-for garden will understand the gift of love found in Mrs. Church’s garden. The story is well told with compassion. The plot develops with ease and the accompanying illustrations add to the story. The author repeatedly uses the following mantra to emphasize the importance and the passion found in this garden: “Mrs. Church’s garden was a jungle. Everywhere you looked there was something growing. Every time of the year, there was something blooming.” There is a powerful message in this story, not just one about the calming beauty of a garden, but one of the importance and strength of a community coming together and helping each other. Giving, caring, sharing, working together; a well-developed and compassionate story, one to be enjoyed by all ages.
