Parent Magazine St. Johns April 2019 | Page 15

Jo MacDonald Had a Garden, by Mary Quattlebaum, illustrated by Laura J. Bryant Ready, Set, Grow!: A Kid’s Guide to Gardening, by Rebecca Spohn Drawing on the tune “Old MacDonald,” Jo MacDonald Had a Garden brings readers into the garden where Jo, Old MacDonald’s granddaughter, and her cousin Mike go from planting to reaping. Kids have fun looking for the new plant or animal added to each spread. The back of the book includes information on all the plants and animals added, along with activities, tips, and resources for young gardeners. Whether you want to garden inside or out, there’s something for you in this book. It also includes recipes using food you’ve grown and garden craft projects. Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, by Kate Messner This beautifully illustrated book shows what’s happening, the shoots and leaves and other plant parts kids will see, but it also shows what might be less visible, the worms and roots and bugs down in the dirt. GARDENING How To Gardening Lab for Kids, by Renata Brown The subtitle of this book says it all: 52 Experiments to Learn, Grow, Harvest, Make, Play and Enjoy Your Garden. If you are looking to maximize production in a garden, this isn’t the book, but if you want to maximize fun, check this one out. Grow: A Family Guide to Growing Fruits and Vegetables Together, by Ben Raskin This basic introduction gets you thinking about what plants need, the tools you need to get started, and some info on the top fruits and vegetables. There’s also a chapter on planning your garden. Roots, Shoots, Buckets, and Boots by Sharon Lovejoy Sharon Lovejoy loves introducing children to gardens. In this and other books, she has lots of ideas for making gardening fun. Imagine a garden that tells time by when the flowers bloom or lettuce spelling out your child’s name or a cucumber inside a bottle. She’ll show you how to do that and grow a sunflower house or a bean and flower teepee and so much more. Square Foot Gardening with Kids, by Mel Bartholomew Square foot gardening is a specific method of compact planting in a tight space, and Bartholomew, who popularized the idea decades ago, explains how to get started and succeed. This book is designed for adults who want to garden with kids and has specific ideas on gardening with kids at different ages and stages from toddlers to teens. What will you and your family grow together? Sara Barry is a writer who planted her first garden when she was five and hasn’t stopped. Her kids help with everything from planning and planting to picking and eating (though nobody loves weeding). For the Kids or the Kid in you! Be a part of the action and cheer for our incredible local athletes in The Team Obstacle Challenge Course. Orthopaedic Associates of St. Augustine is hosting the 4th Annual Family Fun Fest at Francis Field on Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 10:00 am – 8:00 pm. This dynamic all day festival is packed with activities for the KIDS and the KID IN YOU! There will be live community entertainment including: “Be the Hamster” Snow Cones, Jumperama, Face Painting, Clowns, Games, Golf activities, appearances by Local Law Enforcement and Military, Fire Trucks, Costumed Characters, Community Education, Crafts, Vendors, Beer, Food Trucks and MORE! Twenty teams of eight members push themselves to the limits to beat the clock battling for the ultimate title! A few featured obstacles including: Rock Wall, Jump Boxes, Tarp Pull, Row Boat and the Warped Wall. Defending the titles for The Team Obstacle Challenge Course: 1st Marines, 2nd Bozard Ford, 3rd Anastasia Fitness and Top Fundraiser: Nettles Fine Jewelry. Orthopaedic Associates of St. Augustine hosts the event for all ages as a fundraiser for Alpha-Omega Miracle Home, a local non-profit, which provides housing and supportive for young mothers, their children, and senior women. General admission is $5 adults, $3 seniors, $3 military and $3 first responders, youth under 12 are free. Kid Zone wristband tickets for Jumperama bounce houses and Extreme Nerf Battle will be sold at the event for $10 to enjoy all day play. The Family Fun Fest Mission: • Educational and networking opportunities for non-profits in our community • Showcasing St. Johns County local talent to share their joyful gifts • Raise awareness of and money for Alpha-Omega Miracle Home S T. J O H N S parent M A G A Z I N E | 15