A classic to celebrate SPRING and my 2nd Blogiversary!
Author: Gene Zion
Illustrator: Margaret Bloy Graham
Publisher: Harper & Brothers, 1959
Ages: 3 and up
Themes: plants, ingenuity, community
Opening: “I’m a plant sitter!” said Tommy. “That’s nice, dear,” said his mother. “Tell me about it later. I’m going shopping and I’ll be back soon.”
Summary: (from my Kirkus reviews) Tommy’s remarkable skill with caring for plants virtually turns his orderly house into a jungle. Mother frowns, father is perturbed, but Tommy vehemently pursues his career of caring for the vacationing neighbors’ plants. A twist of the familiar baby-sitting situation, a dash of fantasy, and the bouquet of Margaret Graham’s illustrations blend here in one of the most beguiling books of the season.
I like this book because: it’s a story that celebrates independence, ingenuity, imagination and problem solving. The writing seems simple with no-nonsense vocabulary and a low word-count, but anyone who has attempted to write a picture book knows how difficult that really is. The energy from the initial illustrations is well-preserved with simple wash effects using just three colors. A classic gem!
Resources/activities: this would be a great book to introduce the spring curriculum and germinate plants in the classroom, or the home windowsill; In art class, the book can be used to discuss the blending of primary colors to produce secondaries; watch this is a clip from “RHYTHMS OF NATURE IN THE BARYCZ VALLEY” movie at the bottom of this post, or – HERE
For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.
julie rowan-zoch 
How cool to use just three colors! I hope my kids do this then I’ll have plants without looking after them 😉
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Most likely it was a decision based on the color printing process of the time, but still super!
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I’ve noticed an awful lit of modern poetry books have black and white throughout except the cover. Interesting.
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It costs less, that’s for sure, but I often enjoy an artist’s blak and whites more, sometimes I even prefer their sketch studies!
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Exactly. I might try that sometime when my sketching gets better 😉
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Doodle a day!
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yep back on it next week
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This is one of my all time favorite childhood books. I almost stole it last time I was home 🙂
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I never knew this one as a kid, but their other books.
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This looks wonderful, Julie! A gem indeed! I never knew Gene Zion wrote anything but the Harry books (which I LOVE) so I will have to find a copy of this ASAP! Thanks for sharing and what a perfect title to usher in spring!
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I love the Harry books too!
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How do I not know this gem? And, yes, the style is very reminiscent of the HARRY stories.
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I believe they teamed up for a number of books, Joanna.
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Like Susanna and Joanna, I only knew about the Harry books by Gene Zion but this looks like it’s just as wonderful as those! We’re all about plants in the family. 🙂
Happy blogaversary!
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I bet your kids would enjoy it still, Teresa!
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One of my favorite books when I was little, was Graham’s Benji’s Dog House. My kids still love Benji and the Barking Bird. Plant Sitter looks even better. Thanks, Julie.
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Please do a review, Joanne!
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Happy Blogiversary!
Hadn’t seen this one before. It looks wonderful :).
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Thanks, glad to introduce something to you for a change!
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I’ve not seen this book before, but it certainly has stood the test of time and is a classic. I love the idea of a story about plant sitting. Really great book about learning responsibility with a twist of fun. Great illustrations.
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If I’d had this years ago, it might have led my two to be more enterprising!
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Wow! Like the others, I saw the illustrations and my mind said Harry the Dirty Dog! But I have never seen this book. Too cute.
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I thought ‘Harry’ when I first picked it up.
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Julie, I remember reading this book in 2nd grade. The illustrations are what I recall – can’t remember much of the story. I’ll have to see if I can find it.
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That you remember in which grade you read it is amazing!
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I sat by the windows which had the book shelf under neath. I always got the good books first cuz I could see them ahead of time.
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🙂
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This book sounds perfectly charming. I love the illustrations. Thanks for the review.
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Love, love, love the illos. I hope our library has this vintage treasure.
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I hope it does too!
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I’m having to be a plant sitter these days as the Godzilla pup wants to eat them all! Maybe I need to find this book and read to her. I love illustrations in old books. They seem to do soooo much with so few colors! Thanks for sharing!
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Awesome book! I want to read this! 😀
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Looks like you found a diamond in the lake of picture books. Okay. So how’d you find this? Hmmm. Do you have ESP? I’m wondering because I wanted to find a book like this. So? What gives? Mind reader? EH? I’m gonna have to order this one asap! Thanks, my good buddy. xoxo
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I put anything and everything that interests me on hold immediately, but when it arrives, I can not remember where the original tip came from. But a little mystery in life is good!
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Cute book and love the illustrations. Once again I get side-tracked by the video/videos…
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I really liked that one too!
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Love this springy post, Julie. And that begging dog is great in the illo above. You’re so right about the palette. Perfect.
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Thanks for popping in, Dana. I just put a bunch of Bloy Graham’s books on hold.
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