Colors in a Garden

Amelia Krebs
Lifevest Publising (2007)
ISBN 9781598792553
Reviewed by Olivia Alejandre (age 4) and her Mom for Reader Views (11/07)

Mom’s review / summary:
Thank you for encouraging children to learn sign language!  With this book, I see and feel a lot of respect for people with hearing disabilities and for nature.

Olivia had fun doing the sign language for each color.  She has learned most of these at her preschool and was energized to show me (since I didn’t know the signs very well).  Anytime she has an opportunity to “teach” me something, she gets quite focused and proud of herself.  This book gave her the opportunity to showcase her skills, which, of course, made me smile.

Olivia enjoyed looking at the pictures of the flowers but got distracted when I started reading the descriptions of where each plant grows and the other information.  I’m not sure she comprehended most of the plant descriptors – she will likely enjoy that part of the book more in a year or two.

I would suggest that a picture accompany the description of the grandmother’s house, or, if not available, a field of grass with a tree and hollyhocks.  It would add more understanding and connection to the memory being described so eloquently.

Olivia’s review / summary (Mom’s comments in parentheses):
“I like the brown and black (she knows the sign language for those colors the best and she taught me how to do them, so I think that influenced her choice of favorites).  I like the white and blue (I think these were her favorite pictures to look at).”

“They look like people (the Hollyhock dolls)!  They look like people with dresses!”

Some quotes from Olivia about “Colors in a Garden”:
“What are those?” (the sharp points on the holly leaves)

“That one is shiny.” (the holly leaves)

[Mom]:  “Which flowers would you like to plant in our backyard?”
“I like the white flower.”
[Mom]:  “Are there any others that you would like to plant?”
“No, just the white ones.”

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