Celia Planted a Garden: The Story of Celia Thaxter and Her Island Garden

The quiet, precise text tells of a person who brought beauty to a barren place. . . Sweet's vivid, beautifully crafted illustrations capture the story's period setting and quiet, reflective subject. This handsome picture-book biography will resonate with those who love flower gardens and long for the sea.

Root and Schmidt describe Celia's seasonal activities with great admiration, carefully naming the flower and bird species to which she felt so deeply connected. Sweet's lush, detailed watercolor, gouache, and mixed-media illustrations greatly enhance the text. . . . A splendid introduction to a lesser-known nature poet and the landscapes that inspired her.

Sweet's illustrations follow the text's lead. . . Thaxter's devotion to her titular garden shines bright.

Vivid nature writing infuses this picture book biography of New England artist and poet Celia Thaxter (1835-1894). The story opens with Thaxter's rugged childhood at a lighthouse on White Island and her teen years on Appledore Island, where she installed a garden near her family's hotel. After marriage takes Thaxter to the mainland, a longing (for "the tumbled shores of her island home, and the rising and falling tides, and the crash of the waves on the rocks") inspires poetry and annual visits to Appledore for gardening. In mixed media, Sweet showcases florals on every page, weaving in quotes from Thaxter's own writing. Largely eliding her artistic and writerly accomplishments, Root and Schmidt's simplified portrait predominantly emphasizes the vibrant flowers Thaxter cultivated wherever she went. Back matter includes an author's note, extensive timeline, and bibliography. Ages 5-9. (May)

Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 2-4--Island life in the northeastern United States can be colorless, as grays and whites cover not only the sky and sea but the animals, as well. Celia Thaxter grew up on just such an island, lamenting the limited color palette that surrounded her even while embracing the beauty and tumult of the sea. In response, Thaxter decided to craft a garden filled with vibrant and colorful flowers of many types to enhance the appearance of the island. And as her life took her to new places, she discovered ways to bring the beauty of her garden to paper through words and paint. This narrative biography introduces readers to a woman who was a renowned poet in her time. Rich paragraphs of text are used to tell her story, and these blocks often use repetition of color alongside specific references to myriad natural creatures. Snippets of Thaxter's poetry are placed alongside several of the images to enhance the text, and these words stand out dramatically from the others in both size and presentation. Paired with the softness of watercolor and pencil lines within each image, the words and illustrations together create a visual tapestry that connects readers to her colorful world. An author's note and time line of Thaxter's life help to round out the overall text and provide additional information for readers to peruse. VERDICT Elementary school-aged readers will enjoy learning about a colorful and creative woman through this work.--Mary R. Lanni

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Celia Laughton Thaxter was a New England poet, artist, gardener, and nature lover. In this picture book biography, authors Root and Schmidt introduce young readers to the passion that Celia had for natural beauty.
—School Library Connection

Twin Cities writer Phyllis Root, author of more than 50 books for children, has teamed up with Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt in this inspiring biography of Celia. Melissa Sweet's watercolor, gouache and mixed-media collage illustrations depict the bountiful gardens, tender blossoms and raging sea to perfection.
—The Star Tribune

Melissa Sweet's illustrations are delicate and graphically the book is a joy, with flowers, drawings of the town, a picture of Celia and her husband, all filling every page with energy.
—The St. Paul Pioneer Press