This book aims at connecting gardening with literacy and children's literature and is designed for adults who work with children including classroom teachers, horticulturists, arboretum and botanical garden educational directors, librarians, garden center teachers, and camp counselors. It provides ideas for using children's books, language arts, and creative activities within a gardening setting. Chapter 1 eases the hesitant adult leader into gardening with children and provides a classroom teacher with a beginning for September when the school begins and most outdoor gardening ends. Included in this chapter are descriptions of three types of indoor gardens: garbage gardens, windowsill gardens, and gardens under glass. Chapters 2 through 5 describe plants, their parts and functions, and plant groups such as bulbs and wildflowers, under "flowers"; pumpkins, tomatoes, potatoes, and corn under "vegetables"; and apples, peaches, cherries, strawberries, and blueberries under "fruit." Chapter 6 describes "plant variety" including mushrooms and molds; ferns, cacti and succulents, carnivorous plants, and trees. Chapters 7 to 10 are sequenced from getting ready to actual gardening. Included in these chapters are tools needed, gardening tips, a discussion of garden "friends" and "foes," and a description of garden habitats which include habitats of butterflies, birds, bees, small animals, and wildlife. Chapter 11 encourages gardening groups to experiment with different types of gardens, especially city gardens including yardstick gardens, porch, patio, and balcony gardens, and community gardens. An annotated bibliography is also included. (JRH)