Grandma's Gardens

The mother-daughter team shapes a deeply affectionate tribute to the bounty of nature and the love of gardening they both shared with the late Dorothy Rodham, Hillary's mother and Chelsea's grandmother, here mentioned by her first name. On each spread, the authors share a singular memory of gardening with Grandma Dorothy at various points in their lives: "I remember being so proud that Grandma asked me to help her care for the azaleas," recalls a young Chelsea; Hillary, reminiscing about her mother gardening into her 90s, notes, "Watching my mom enjoying our garden and tending to it gave me as much joy as it gave her." Less effectual than these personal recollections are accompanying platitudes ranging from obvious ("Gardens give us food") to extraneous ("Gardens are places to share stories"). Lemniscates (Birds) gracefully marks the passage of time in tranquil mixed-media pictures showcasing the changing seasons and the richly hued flora, vegetables, and fruit they bring, the maturing appearance of each character, and, ultimately, the addition of Chelsea's children to the cheerful gardening brigade. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)

PreS-Gr 2--In this nostalgic paean to gardens and grandmothers, Chelsea and Hillary Clinton share their memories of Hillary's mother, Grandma Dorothy. In alternating paragraphs (Chelsea's in blue type, Hillary's in green), they talk about the ways gardens can be places of learning, discovery, and story sharing. Gardens can provide homes for animals and food for people. Readers watch Chelsea grow from a curious toddler inspecting a ladybug to a young adult sharing souvenir books from gardens she had visited. Except for her hair color, Hillary changes little from young mother to grandmother herself. The illustrations also have a static quality. Pretty, pleasant, and tidy, the gardens are manicured and controlled--no dirt, no weeds, no flowerpot or blossom out of place. VERDICT Filtered through golden memories, these recollections will probably appeal more to adults than children. The book may prove a popular gift for grandmothers, especially those with gardens.--Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University Library, Mankato