Spring is in the air! I see the tips of our daffodils, tulips and irises poking out of the soil between the mounds of snow. Spring is my favorite season. I love watching the world come back to life. I saw my first robin last week, so I know the warmer weather will be here soon. That means it is time to think about my garden. Today I am sharing a beautiful book comparing love to a garden. I made a match game with the beautiful illustrations and have a round-up of flower and garden crafts as well as a giveaway!! It is fun post! The book is called My Love for You Is Like a Garden by Laura Smetana.
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From the Publisher:
My Love for You Is Like a GardenWritten and Illustrated by Laura Smetana
All Ages | 38 Pages
Publisher: Flying Cardinal Press | ISBN-13: 9781737140962
Publisher’s Book Summary: With bright, watercolor collages, My Love for You Is Like a Garden celebrates unconditional love with vibrant garden scenes that will delight fans of Lois Ehlert and Eric Carle. Perfect for baby showers, bedtime read-alouds, or anyone you love!
Say “I love you” with this charming picture book families will love reading together over and over again. Bold, colorful illustrations of flowers, butterflies, and animals will inspire readers of all ages to explore the natural world—and maybe even plant their own garden. Children will delight in finding ladybugs hidden throughout, and a glossary provides the names of each plant and animal featured. A beautiful book to share with a child, parent, or anyone who means the world to you!
My Love for You is Like a Garden Activity Kit – Free Download
PURCHASE LINKS
A Friends and Family Offer
If you’ve already purchased a copy of My Love for You Is Like a Garden, head on over to Laura Smetana’s website to receive two free downloadable 8×10 watercolor collage art prints:- Print 1 – My love for you is like a garden
- Print 2 – My love for you flows freely
ABOUT THE AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR
Laura Smetana is the author and illustrator of My Love for You Is Like a Garden, a joyful picture book that celebrates unconditional love with bold, watercolor collages of garden scenes. She is also the author of Ice Cream with Grandpa: A Loving Story for Kids About Alzheimer’s & Dementia (illustrated by Elisabete B. P. de Moraes), which was winner of a Northern Lights Book Award, and Little Squiggle’s Lake Adventure, which she co-authored with her son, Stirling Hebda.
When she isn’t writing or painting, Laura can be found talking to kids at school author visits, gardening in her sunhat, and spending time with her family outdoors. Laura lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and son. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Downers Grove Artists’ Guild.
Visit her online at www.laurasmetana.com and @SmetanaLaura on Twitter.
From Me:
This book is beautiful. The illustrations are gorgeous and the words are so sweet. Laura compares love to the blooms, creatures and more in a garden. Love is warm, tender, gentle, flowing and growing and so much more. How would you describe love? This is a wonderful tale describing love to a child. I would see it as love from a parent or caregiver.
The book goes through different flowers by name as well as things that a plant needs to grow--sun, water, roots and more. Then at the end of the book there is a picture glossary asking the reader to find the different things in the book. Before I saw the glossary I thought this book would be perfect to have a match game go with it. When I discovered the glossary I knew I wanted to use the illustrations in it. I asked for permission and I get to share this beautiful match game with you.
Print this file double sided on cardstock and print two copies for the match game. Then cut the cards out and you have all you need for a perfect match game. What I love is how it teaches kids about specific flowers: marigolds, roses, tiger lilies, lilacs, purple cornflowers, black-eyed Susans, and linden trees. It also has robins, squirrels, lady bugs and monarch butterflies. After reading the book and playing the match game, it will be fun to search for the flowers and creatures and things in your yard, in a park, etc. Whether you are on a walk or out for a bit, it ties into a great outdoor activity. Or you could get some of the types of flowers and plant a garden in your yard. There are so many possibilities to go with this book! I hope you will check it out. Share some love with your favorite little ones and then enjoy the beauty it shares and find some in real life!
Flower Craft Round-Up:
Since this book is all about gardens, I thought some flower crafts (and more) would be great to go along with it. I've divided the crafts into three groups--paper flowers, real flowers and everything else!
Paper Flower Crafts
1) Flower Kindness Craft from Coffee and Carpool
3) Mixed Media Collage Cupcake Liner Flowers from Fantastic Fun and Learning
5) Paper Plate Flower Craft from Crafts on Sea
6) Flower Pop Art from Messy Little Monster
7) Coffee Filter Flowers from Crafts on Sea
8) Circuit Flowers from STEAM-powered Family
10) Fold-Out Secret Garden from Barley and Birch
11) Paper Plate Flowers from Glitter on a Dime
12) Simple Rolled Paper Flowers from Carrots Are Orange
13) Handprint Flower Card from Simple Everyday Mom
14) Sunflower Craft from Simple Everyday Mom
15) DIY Watercolor Flower Garden Card from Barley and Birch
16) Handprint Paper Flower from Little Ladoo
17) Paper Sunflower (Older Child Craft)
18) Mix and Match Flower Craft from Messy Little Monster
19) Easy Tulip Craft from Next Comes L
20) Threaded Paper Plate Flowers from Kids Craft Room
Real Flower Crafts
1) Playing with Flowers
3) Not a flower craft but perfect for a garden and matches the breeze in the book--Cutlery Wind Chimes from Red Ted Art
5) Painting with Flowers from Finding Myself Young
7) Hammering Petal Art from Taming Little Monsters
8) Pressed Flower Vase/Pencil Holder
9) Pressed Flower Suncatcher from The Gingerbread House
11) Parts of a Flower from Carrots Are Orange
More Flower Crafts
1) Kitchen Utensil Printmaking Flowers from Fantastic Fun and Learning
2) Egg Carton Flowers from The Craft Train
3) Recycled Egg Carton Flower Bouquet from Finding Myself Young
5) Toilet Paper Roll Stamped Flowers from Taming Little Monsters
6) Sponged Stamped Flowers from The Craft Train
7) DIY Flower Paper Plate & More Ideas
12) Realistic Paper Flowers (Teen & Adult Level Craft) (Also Wildflowers)
Giveaway:
Enter for a chance to win a glorious garden-themed grand prize, including a hardcover copy of My Love for You Is Like a Garden, autographed by Laura Smetana! Good luck!
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
A cotton tote bag filled with:
- A hardcover copy of My Love for You Is Like a Garden, signed by author & illustrator Laura Smetana
- 4 oz of tea from Adagio Teas
- A bar of Italian rose soap
- Cherry blossom & tea rose hand lotion
- Sunflower & ladybug garden stake
- A 12 piece colored pencil set
- A mini sketchbook with elastic closure band
- 5 blank cards & envelopes featuring art from My Love for You is Like a Garden
Two (2) winners receive:
- A paperback copy of My Love for You Is Like a Garden, signed by author & illustrator Laura Smetana
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