Gwendolyn’s Pet Garden

After her parents fail to convince Gwendolyn that they or her brother were suitable replacements for a pet, they finally give her something to care for – a box of dirt.

Gwendolyn is not happy with this “pet”, but, soon, she has a change of heart. She begins exploring the dirt and visiting the library to learn more about gardening and is kindly given seeds from the seed lending library.

While initially Gwendolyn’s pet garden seems hopeless, but, with time, sunshine, water, and a lot of love, her plants begin to grow. She continues to nurture them, learn from them, and care for them. In the end, although this “pet” does not have two or four legs like Gwendolyn would have liked, it is still alive, and she finds happiness in caring for it.

The illustrations are bold, bright and colourful, just what you would expect in a book about gardening.

Gwendolyn’s Pet Garden is a sweet little story, one that is perfect for the spring and summer and one that reminds us of the joy of gardening. Although it is hard to believe that a garden can be a replacement for a pet, this story shows us that sometimes, even if we don’t end up getting what we wanted, we can find happiness in an alternative.

Children in primary grade will find Gwendolyn’s Pet Garden relatable on many levels, from asking parents for a pet, to the excitement of seeing a plant grow.