The Gardener - Sarah Stewart

In this Caldecott Honor Book, it's 1935, and when her family can't make ends meet, young Lydia Grace is sent to live with her Uncle Jim, a baker in the city. However, Lydia takes her love for gardening with her and sets out to make grumpy Uncle Jim smile. Full color. n nBy the author-and-illustrator team of the bestselling The Libraryn nLydia Grace Finch brings a suitcase full of seeds to the big gray city, where she goes to stay with her Uncle Jim, a cantankerous baker. There she initiates a gradual transformation, bit by bit brightening the shop and bringing smiles to customers' faces with the flowers she grows. But it is in a secret place that Lydia Grace works on her masterpiece -- an ambitious rooftop garden -- which she hopes will make even Uncle Jim smile. Sarah Stewart introduces readers to an engaging and determined young heroine, whose story is told through letters written home, while David Small's illustrations beautifully evoke the Depression-era setting.n nThe Gardener is a 1997 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year and a 1998 Caldecott Honor Book.n