Photography by Polly Wreford

Synopsis: Children find gardening fun and fascinating — watching a bean sprout or a pumpkin grow bigger every day can seem like a miracle, as well as a huge achievement. And gardening can help kids connect to and understand more about nature, the seasons and the food we eat. In Gardening with Kids, Catherine Woram and Martyn Cox tell you everything you need to know, from choosing and preparing your site, and growing from seeds, bulbs and cuttings, to choosing plants from the local garden centre. Themed plant lists help you choose what to grow, as well as highlighting plants to avoid. There are 35 amazing projects — even toddlers can enjoy growing cress in crazy eggheads or planting colourful annuals, while older kids can create their own salad patch, a hanging basket, a terrarium in a glass jar or an alpine garden. There are also plenty of garden-related crafts to work on indoors. Little hands will enjoy getting to grips with lavender bags and tin-can windchimes. A section on outdoor fun covers garden games and treasure hunts whatever outside space they have.

www.rylandpeters.com/books/index.php?section=gardening

Hot Brands Verdict
We loved this book and so did our junior reviewers, there are wonderful projects suitable for children of all ages. We loved the Lavender Bags, the Elf House, the Fairy Posies and Daisy Chains and the lovely Pebble Bird Bath. There are lots of different gardens to create, treasure hunts and decorations for later in the year. If you want to inspire your children with a love of gardening, there is no better place to start. Highly Recommended!