We Are the Gardeners

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Pub Date 26 Mar 2019 | Archive Date 19 Feb 2021

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Description

Teach children that the greatest rewards come from patience, hard work, and learning from mistakes!

In the #1 New York Times bestseller We Are the Gardeners, Joanna Gaines and the kids chronicle the adventures of starting their own family garden. From their failed endeavors, obstacles to overcome (bunnies that eat everything), and all of the knowledge they gain along the way, the Gaines family shares how they learned to grow a happy, successful garden.

We Are the Gardeners is a whimsical picture book perfect for:

  • Ages 4-8
  • Parents, libraries, classroom story times, and discussions focusing on springtime and gardening
  • Households that enjoy watching HGTV's Fixer Upper
  • Young children and families interested in gardening and plants

After reading, children will learn:

  • Trying something new isn't always easy, but the hardest work often yields the greatest reward
  • The basic steps and process of starting a garden
  • The importance of patience and how it is possible to learn from your mistakes

You and your children will learn all about the Gaines family's story of becoming gardeners in Joanna's first children's book--starting with the first little fern Chip bought for Jo. Over the years, the family's love for gardening has blossomed into what is now a beautiful, bustling garden.

Teach children that the greatest rewards come from patience, hard work, and learning from mistakes!

In the #1 New York Times bestseller We Are the Gardeners, Joanna Gaines and the kids chronicle the...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781400314225
PRICE $19.99 (USD)
PAGES 40

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (PDF)

Average rating from 151 members


Featured Reviews

This is a cute story about not letting failures hold you back. I loved the illustrations and I could see myself using it in my homeschool to teach about gardening as well. I didn't notice the author when I initially requested the book - and while the Gaines name will be enough to draw many people, the story is worth your while, too!

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A cute story by my favorite family, the Gaines. The illustrations are very kid frien,day and colorful. The narrative is instructional and not condescending. The messages interlaced in the story are very positive and beneficial for every reader, no matter what age. A sweet introduction to young readers about the joys and lessons of tending plants.

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I was excited to be able to receive a review copy of this book because like everything else Joanna Gaines does, I knew I would love it.  But I wasn't prepared to be blown away!

This book is filled with page after page of stunning artwork!  21 pages in total.  Vibrant colors, relatable character images, and the realness of each scene really made me pause.  But then when you get into the story, it really makes you think about the wonder and awe of life in all its forms.  It's really about more than just gardening, it's about how the garden can help teach your kids some great values in life.

Values such as work ethic, being dependable, reliable, and consistent.  Your kids will see how gardening can help them be innovative, creative, and compassionate.  They'll learn optimism, courage, and perseverance through the trials a garden can provide.

Aside from these wonderful life-lessons, they'll see that they can enjoy the fruits of their labor as they gather around the table.

It's a great length for younger kids, and I believe that is the intended audience.  It's written in a way that younger children can relate with.  In the end, this book exceeded my expectations and I highly recommend it for anyone who gardens or wants to garden with their children or grandchildren.

Absolutely 2 thumbs WAY up for this one!

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This is a perfect read. Not only does the stunningly illustrated narrative have heartvand charm, it has subtle science. This is a book that will teach children (and some adults lacking the greenfingers of gardening skills) about the fundamentals of gardening.

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I didn't know that this family is famous (not living in the U.S. and so on, but I strongly recommend this book to children (and adults) to learn about the struggle of having plants and flowers.

Non sapevo che questa fosse una famiglia famosa (non vivendo negli Stati Uniti e non guardando la tv), ma mi sento di raccomandare questo libro ai bambini ( e anche agli adulti) per imparare come sia difficile prendersi cura di piante e fiori.

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

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Fun and entertaining read. Have enjoyed the Gaines family journey through gardening. Beautiful illustrations! Great family read. Would recommend.

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What a beautifully illustrated children's book! I love that through gardening the book teaches the importance no family, team work, perseverance and hope. The writing feels meant for older kids, and some pages have quite a bit of text on them, but I feel all ages can enjoy the beautiful art and sweet story about how this family became gardeners and what that means.

I can definitely see myself buying this is the future because it's so pretty, but also because of the important lessons it teaches.

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This book was adorable! I loved the pictures. They were beautiful and colorful. I also loved how the story taught you not to give up and keep trying. If at first you don’t succeed try try again. I can’t wait to pick this nook up for some of the kids I know. I think their parents will appreciate the story and the kids will want to read it again and again!

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This is such a cute little story! I love how it goes through the steps of gardening as well as encouraging children to keep trying and not give up! Definitely will be buying this one for my little girls!

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I'm a keen gardener and I loved this book that is full of interesting lesson and it's perfect for teaching kids about gardening.
I loved the illustrations and how the story was told.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all opinions are mine

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Review to come in a week (when the release date is closer by).

I received this picture book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

A very cute picture book about gardening and family. I fell in love with the cover, and just had to request it on Netgalley. And after reading I am even gladder that I got this book, because it was very sweet and gorgeously illustrated.

The book tells us about the Gaines family. How they first started with one little plant, a present for their mom, and how that grew to tons of plants in the home, eventually going outside. We see how to take care for plants (like play piano music, talk to them, give them water but not too much), we see struggles as they take their gardening outside. Plans are made, but sometimes nature has other plans, how will our family go about with those things happening. We learn that one should never give up, that you should keep going, because you are the gardeners. You are the caretakers.

The pages varied from having very little text and tons of gorgeous illustrations to more text and a few illustrations. I quite like the variety, though I have to say I was a bit bored at times with the pages with more text. It just seemed to go on and on while I felt most of these things could have said in lesser words.

As I said, the art was just absolutely gorgeous. At times I stayed on pages a bit longer due to the gorgeousness of the illustrations. I just had to soak it all up.

All in all, a pretty nice picture book about family and gardening.

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We Are The Gardeners is the perfect book to read with your children to encourage them to get outdoors and start gardening. If you are a fan of the Gaines family, this is a great addition to your library.

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This is clearly one of my favorite kids books! The illustrations are gorgeous!!!
I am much more likely to buy a book or read a children's book over and over again if I like what I am looking at. And I love looking through this book.

Gaines tells us an incredibly charming story about a family that discovers their love for gardening. They start off by caring for a small potted fern and end up with a beautiful garden. The book explains how plants grow and what goes into planning and planting a garden. But it also teaches us never to give up and that hard work will be rewarded. It is educating and inspiring at the same time.

Thank you for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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"We Are the Gardeners" is a beautiful introduction to gardening for children and families. We’ve all had plants that didn’t thrive due to problems with watering, sunlight, or wildlife. This charming children’s book shows that planting and maintaining a garden is hard work, but it’s also rewarding to create something of beauty and utility. The Gaines children learn how to solve problems, work diligently, and do their research when creating a garden. This book will inspire families to start their own gardens or tend to indoor plants if gardening isn’t an option. Illustrator Julianna Swaney also deserves high praise for her beautiful and charming illustrations that make this book such a joy to look at.

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We keep a little fern on the piano to remind us of our small beginnings. Every time we water it, we're reminded not to give up when things don't work out the first time. Because the thing is, whether one potted fern dies or half of the garden is wiped out by little critters, every failure or setback teaches us something. Dad says that every hard thing we choose to do MAKES US BRAVER for the next time.

A garden can teaches us many life lessons and with the Gaines way of keeping community in the family, it is no wonder they are so popular among our culture. The connection with their children and all that they do is inner woven in these pages. From the beginning of a loss fern to the family coming together to make garden creates a bond that we all long for.

Loved the illustration as well, pastel colors and happy faces as they face their challenges together. Highly recommend.

A Special Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

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Joanna Gaines and the Gaines children demonstrates how anyone can garden with just a little research, a little planning and a little love. It's soothing colorscape solidifies this as a keeper title for any collection and one for multi-grade, multi-unit usage.

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A beautiful picture book about how Chip and Joanna Gaines's family began a love of plants that grew into a humongous garden. Beautiful pictures and a story told by kids.

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Really adorable and fun little picture book! I loved that it had a lot more detail and I think it'll be very engaging for children.

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This is a great book for children. It not only talks about how to grow plants, but it also dips its toes into trying again when you aren't successful the first time. I loved the illustrations. It would be a great book for any child. My granddaughter will find a copy in her Easter basket from me this year! I received this ARC from Netgalley--thank you to Netgalley and the publisher. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all opinions are mine.

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Thank you NetGalley for my ARC. Such a cute story! I loved the illustrations and the book teaches such a good lesson.

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We Are The Gardeners by Joanna Gaines is just the cutest little story about gardening. I loved it. The characters are caring, hardworking and motivational. This story will give readers hope and inspiration, weather it be about growing your own garden or just having a different perspective on a situation , Joanna Gaines hits the nail right on the head with this book. A 5 STAR “ Must REad”

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A very cute and beautifully illustrated story of one family’s journey to gardening. I loved that the story was told from the perspective of the children and that the parents were there for guidance and support. This actually goes well with what I believe to be the theme of the book: if at first you don’t succeed, do some research, and try again!

A must read for every parent/caregiver wanting to encourager their child to do hard things, to appreciate the beauty of the natural world around them, to work together with their siblings, and to build family culture/traditions!
I’m excited to start small with a little fern of our own!

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I love books that get kids involved in gardening and this one did not disappoint. It wasn't just a fluff book, it had great content, explained how sometimes plants die and had the kids research at the library why the plant died and what they should do to avoid a problem such as over hydration in the future. See the kids succeed after trail and error is so important and why this makes my must-read list.

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While this book will be received well because it has Joanna Gaines' name on it... it 100% deserves it for the beauty within the pages. The artwork is gorgeous and page by page you find yourself living inside the story. It has a beautiful message about values, compassion and perserverance. I was thrilled to receive an ARC - thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Gaines family. I have additionally purchased one for my children as they are aspiring gardeners and I feel its one we enjoy time and time again.

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Vibrant, joyful and determined, We Are the Gardeners is a touching biographical story about a family's journey in discovering and falling in love with gardening.

Each page is beautifully illustrated in rainbow hues evoking Summer with all of its blooms and bountiful harvest. This really is quite a pretty book just asking to be read!

There is a sweet, child-like tone to the writing (this was clearly a project the kids played a big role in!), which offers a special appeal to young readers. Imperfect and excited, I'm sure that children will quickly feel a connection to the authors and be inspired to have a go at trying a new hobby - or telling their own story.

The strong message of not being afraid to try again when things go wrong is wonderful, sharing with the reader the pleasure that can be derived from learning new skills and working hard.

A truly wholesome addition to the home library.

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We are the Gardeners is a perfect children’s book for Spring. It is written by Joanna Gaines and illustrated by Juliana Swaney. This book is about four siblings who learn to become gardeners. They start with taking care of a fern and graduate to planning and developing a full-scale garden. They face obstacles and learn valuable lessons along the way.

We are the Gardeners is a perfect book for kids who are just learning to read and in whom you want to spark a curiosity for gardening. The pictures in the book are beautiful, with mild colors and a lot of detail. I give this book a 5 out of 5 rating. We are the Gardeners is a must read for this Spring.

Thank you to Netgalley and Owlkids Books for the ARC.

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On the surface this is a beautifully illustrated story of a family that teaches about important aspects of taking care of plants. This surface story presents wonderful facts about how to care for plants, the realities of overwatering or the dangers of certain bugs in your garden. When I was a little girl I was obsessed with the Klutz Gardening Book; I think I would have loved this book as well for the facts it presents.

However, just under this adorable surface story is a really sweet story about overcoming failure and keeping the hope. Their first plant was loved to death. As an adult who is new to gardening I can totally understand this sentiment. But instead of becoming discouraged, they used their failure as a lesson to teach them on how to get better. When the goats and other animals got into the garden and wrecked havoc they didn't give up because it got hard. Instead these precious gardeners solved the problem and started again.

There are many precious books about gardening and lots about keeping the hope and not being discouraged. But I can't think of another title that combines them and in such a beautiful way. This is the perfect book for any of your young friends who enjoy plants and gardening (or even for young friends with parents who are fans of Chip and Joanna).

I can't finish this review without making note of the beautiful illustrations. Digital illustrations are so common place now that it was refreshing to have these beautiful watercolor pictures for this story. Anything else would have fallen flat, these accompany the tone and sentiment of the story perfectly.

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This adorable children's book will be a favorite for children and adults. The illustrations are colorfully captivating and the details of each page are fun to pour over to find all the treasures placed on each page. I was happily surprised that this wasn't a typical children's book with a couple words here and there on each page. The writing is dense and has deeper meaning. And although the gardening aspect of the book isn't a how to this books teaches about perseverance and never giving up no matter the set backs. I was so excited to be able to receive this book through NetGalley when I realized that Joanna had added to her list of talents. Her tone and words and I could hear her voice as I read. My kids will love this book for years to come.

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I loved the artwork and how it explains all about gardening to children. It was very enjoyable to read (as an adult) and I was learning as well as my kids. Makes us want to start our garden!

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As a teacher I couldn't wait to add this book to my classroom library. In today's society I feel that kids don't play outside enough and I truly believe in the importance of play and getting children to spend time outdoors. This book is adorable. The illustrations are sweet and the lessons of the book pertain to all children. This book will be read over and over in class especially during the spring season and during our gardening unit!

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This is such a sweet book and I am a big fan of the Gaines family! I read this with my children and will be reading it for years to come :) Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

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The bright, inviting illustrations and the clearly written text detail how a well-known family begins a garden and overcomes some problems along the way. A friendly book with a good message.

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Sweet illustrations accompany educational text. A great read for the budding gardener in your family.

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Adorable book, written from the point of view of the kids. Teaches them persistence through having first a single plant and then growing a garden. Lovely illustrations show the family planning and then tending to their garden. Explains lots about plants and growing in a way that is easy for kids to understand.

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Lovely book. I didn't expect to like it so much. I love how it show failures and perseverance in growing their garden. I also enjoyed the connection to their growing family. Kids will connect with both.

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Oh, the illustrations and beautiful life lessons in this book! This will be a favorite for years to come!

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I love this book and so does my child (5). It is a fun read and at the same time full of wise life lessons to be discussed. Definately a recommentation.

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This children’s book is fantastic! The story, the lessons, the illustrations, all combine to make We Are the Gardeners a perfect gift for a special child in your life or even an adult! I gave my pregnant sister a copy for Mother’s Day, and she was blown away. Even my 60-something father read it and was delighted by how it teaches the reader solid gardening practices within a charming tale of family. Plus, if you’re a fan of Chip and Joanna Gaines, Magnolia, and HGTV’s Fixer Upper, this book is another wonderful addition to their products!

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I have always dreamed of having my own garden and this book has been really inspiring. It is such a fun read, and perfect for a read-along with kids. The voice does not exactly sound like children’s fiction but it is beautifully illustrated, with lots of lovely lessons like perseverance, hard work and patience. It‘s a beautiful, wholesome read that will add value to any family’s reading/bonding sessions.

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** Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review **

<i> Unlike when we overwatered, zero plants die from us talking too much. </i>

uh oh, this is so cute i might wanna start gardening myself when i have the chance!! every step is easy to follow for dummies like me. i've lived in a household where gardening was a part of our everyday life so reading this book brought out bittersweet memories.

actual rating: 4.2/5 ⭐️

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Adorable children's book with life lessons not just about gardening and growing things, but also about not giving up. This book was able to weave in reminders for children that sometimes hard things take time and work; you may fail at first, but you have to try again. The illustrations are simple, but beautiful It's very informative, but doesn't come off as a textbook so your kids won't lose interest. I actually learned a few things that I did not know regarding gardening and animals/insects! This would be a great addition to every child's book shelf.

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This is a sweet children’s story to inform and inspire regarding gardening. My kids enjoyed reading It around the time we set up our garden this spring. And it’s not surprising that a product of Joanna Gaines and Co. is beautiful and classic. This book would make a cute gift along with some child-sized gardening tools and a few packages of seeds.

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n Joanna Gaines' first children's book, We Are the Gardeners, the reader is introduced to the trials and triumphs of a family garden. From the first little fern that Chip gifted to his wife, to the full outdoor garden that it inspired, the Gaines family learns a number of lessons, both in gardening and in overcoming obstacles. This book is a sweet story about a gardening, working together as a family, and never letting failures define the journey. Whether you're looking to encourage a young gardener or just looking to help your children pick up from a set back, We Are the Gardeners would make a wonderful read.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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Review Title: Joy of Family Gardening (review of We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines and Kids)
Reviewer: Janice S. Garey
***** 5 Stars

This beautifully illustrated and delightfully told story of a family going through the ups and downs of learning to garden will inspire people of all ages to engage with plants. The family starts small scale with a potted fern from which they learn through failure to keep going on toward success by never giving up. Many life lessons are embedded in the story as the family pursues a beautiful and fruitful garden.

Most people are familiar with the Gaines family from their Fixer Upper show. This book will be successful based on that platform alone, but the book has so much more to offer than just pure celebrity appeal. With my background as a homeschool and church preschool teacher, I can envision using this book as a starting point for many learning projects that expand upon the book contents, in both the physical and spiritual realms. Life lessons abound within the story put to words. The illustrations help with teaching preschoolers the names of veggies and flowers, colors, quantities, and a variety of ways the young can help in the garden.

Children who are readers can enjoy the book at their learning level as they plan and anticipate good results from their efforts through multiple step processes. They will be thrilled with their own successfully planned and nurtured garden.

I think the book could even be used in a nursing home/assisted living setting where there is a community garden in which family members help loved ones participate in growing flowers.

I received a free ebook copy through NetGalley in exchange for reading and posting a review of the book. I am under no obligation to give a good review. I have since purchased a hard copy of this beautiful book for a friend. I think people at all levels and stages will benefit from this book's informative content and life lessons.

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We Are the Gardeners is another extension of the Joanna Gaines empire! I think the writing is a little bit too sophisticated for a lot of younger kids but I loved the message. Gardens are miracles and it takes a lot of hard work to make something fruitful and beautiful. Also, even if there are obstacles along the way, you should not give up! The illustrations are SO beautiful! I loved all the pages.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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Such a charming book! Lovely in images, and so warm and approachable in story. It's nice to have expectations surpassed. We know that Chip and Joanna excel in so many of their endeavors, and if anyone was cynical about them branching into children's books, they'll quickly find that the Gaines family is very, very gifted. I loved this book and am happy to have something so positive pop into my life. A lovely book that you'll read on your own as well as (multiple times) to the kids.

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A children’s book about gardens, written by Joanna Gaines, with gorgeous artwork? Yes, please! I don’t know why it took so long for me to get to this one when I was so excited to get it, but I am ecstatic that I finally carved out time for it. So. Worth. It.

Did I mention the artwork is gorgeous? Yeah. Seriously, so lovely. Fresh and sweet and pretty. 100% perfectly suited to the subject AND author of this book. Speaking of which, the subject matter is fabulous. I love when I have time to manage a garden, and Joanna Gaines does a stunning job of explaining the wonder and magic of growing things, and actively participating and understanding nature. She also uses the difficulties of maintaining a garden (pests, critters, not understanding what a plant needs) to show that learning from challenges helps us grow, so we should embrace them and try again, using what we’ve learned.

An absolute must read. I have every intention of buying a copy for myself (oh, and my kids). You should, too!

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This book is perfect for kids, families, and gardeners alike! I love how it teaches the lessons of perseverance, hard work, and dedication through a lovely illustrated and family-based story. This book is perfect to read to kids, especially if you have your own garden or want to teach important skills and mindsets!

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