Burton's Friendship Garden

by V. A. Boeholt, Nathaniel Jensen (Illustrator)

Overview

ABOUT THE BOOK It's time for spring planting, but where is Farmer Green? And how will the garden grow? When Farmer Green is injured during spring planting season and cannot sow his seeds, Burton the Scarecrow and his nearby bird and animal friends find a heartwarming solution to the farmer's impending problem. Banding together to get the job done, the hardworking little crew plants and tends a beautiful garden to benefit Farmer Green and his family at harvest time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781589852105
Publisher:	Five Star Publications, Incorporated
Publication date:	04/02/2013
Series:	Burton the Scarecrow aC" Friendship Tales from the Farm Series , #2
Pages:	36
Product dimensions:	7.80(w) x 10.30(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	6 - 7 Years

About the Author

V.A. Boeholt, Ph.D., has made professional contributions to students, parents and instructors around the world as a teacher, author, and curriculum/program developer. Now extending her influence to children's literature, she is delighted to introduce young readers to the endearing Burton the Scarecrow--Friendship Tales from the Farm series, bringing Burton to life with memorable lessons in character development, service, and gardening. For more information, please visit www.ScarecrowStories.com.

Nathaniel P. Jensen earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Texas and contributes professionally across multiple mediums, including architecture, 3-dimensional canvas, print media, and television/feature film animation. As an award-winning children's book illustrator, he has illustrated 10 titles to date. Often dressing the part of his subject matter, Nate enjoys presenting classroom workshops to students throughout the State of Texas.

Read an Excerpt

Burton's Friendship Garden

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By V. A. Boeholt, Nathaniel P. Jensen

Five Star Publications, Inc.

Copyright © 2013 V. A. Boeholt
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-58985-262-4

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CHAPTER 1

Burton the Scarecrow could see warm rays of spring sunshine slowly spreading across the farm. Ribbon, the scarecrow from a nearby field, had been invited for the afternoon to watch over the land with Burton.

"This is my favorite time of the year, Ribbon. I wanted you to see how Farmer Green prepares the soil for planting," Burton told her.

"Thank you Burton," she replied. "I have heard that Farmer Green is particular about his fields."

"He sure is, Ribbon," Burton agreed. "Farmer Green will work them until they are just right."

Together, they watched Farmer Green drive his tractor with its sharp, pointed plow, up and down the land. Row by row, last year's old growth of dried up garden stalks, stems, and weeds was plowed into the ground. Burton and Ribbon knew that it would soon become natural fertilizer and feed the new crop of plants.

"Look what he is doing now!" Burton said excitedly.

Farmer Green climbed down from his tractor, unhooked the plow, and attached another piece of equipment having many thin metal plates. "That's a discer," Burton explained. "It will break the clumps of soil into soft powder."

"After discing," Burton continued, "Farmer Green will hook on the old wagon wheels he tied together and drag them across the field until it is smooth and flat. Then, he will look for any rocks that need to be picked up."

Soon, it was time Ribbon should return to her field. Burton continued to watch the farmer, hard at work. The sun was about to set when at last, the job was done. Now, the field was ready for planting. Farmer Green was tired, dusty, and pleased.

From his tractor the farmer hollered ...

"Good evening Burton, my friend.

I'll be back tomorrow!"

Morning arrived. Burton was excited that the garden soon would be planted. All day, he anxiously waited for Farmer Green to bring the seeds.

"Have you seen the farmer?" Burton asked a crow who was scratching in the field.

"No, why?" cawed the crow.

"Yesterday, Farmer Green prepared the ground for planting," said Burton. "Today he was supposed to return with the seeds, but I haven't seen him."

"Maybe he will come tomorrow," the crow replied.

The next day came. Burton waited patiently for the farmer.

He waited all morning, but no farmer.

He waited all through noon, but no farmer.

He waited all afternoon, but no farmer.

He waited all evening, but no farmer.

Burton waited all night, but no farmer.

The following morning, Burton heard the crow cawing. It circled above him and then landed on his arm. The crow cawed, "I don't think Farmer Green will be coming for a long time. Looking through his bedroom window, I could see the farmer lying in his bed. He had both legs raised up in the air and they were covered in something white. Mrs. Green was handing him a glass of water."

"Farmer Green must have had an accident," the worried scarecrow said softly. "It sounds like his legs are in casts, so they must be broken. I am sorry to hear that Farmer Green is hurt. Thank you, Crow, for giving me this news."

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Burton's Friendship Garden by V. A. Boeholt, Nathaniel P. Jensen. Copyright © 2013 V. A. Boeholt. Excerpted by permission of Five Star Publications, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Editorial Reviews

"This is another wonderful book in the series for children to read, learn, and remember how to think about others in need, work as a team, and be proud of one's accomplishments. Boeholt understands how to get the message of friendship across while educating young readers about growing vegetables." -- Conny Crisalli, BookPleasures.com

From the Publisher

A fascinating book which encourages and teaches the importance of working together to help each other in times of need. It’s a wonderful, educational experience for children of all ages.”

Ed Hume

Helping a friend in need is being a friend indeed! As young readers learn from Burton the Scarecrow about the importance of service, they will also learn more about farming, gardening, and the value of working together as a team. V.A. Boeholt has done it again with another sweet story of farming, friendship and kindness, helping children develop essential social skills to cultivate throughout their lifetimes.”

Jennifer S. Christensen

Burton, the kind scarecrow, invites his friend Ribbon to watch as Farmer Green works the field with his tractor. First, the farmer plows all of last year’s growth to make natural fertilizer, and then he readies the discer. He follows that with dragging tied-together wagon wheels across the field to make it smooth. After he’s picked up the rocks, the farmer tells Burton that he’ll return tomorrow to plant the seeds. Imagine the scarecrow’s concern when he doesn’t show up. After two days of waiting, Burton finds out from the crow that the farmer has broken both legs. Now he’s even more worried. What will happen to Farmer Green’s family if he cannot grow crops? Burton, always kind and thoughtful, bands the animals together to form a plan to help. Boeholt’s book, as Book 2 in the series called “Friendship Tales from the Farm,” is so much more than a book about farming. Teachers will surely appreciate the Resource Guide (included within the book), the page on the history of gardening, comprehension questions, the ideas for activities, and the glossary of words unfamiliar to many third graders. In addition, “Burton’s Friendship Garden” provides an opportunity to teach character development and service, as the scarecrow, alongside his friends, finds a way to work together to achieve a worthy goal. As Boeholt brings Burton to life, she’s able to reach children with that important message of friendship. Read aloud or silently, “Burton’s Friendship Garden” should be near the top of the third grade reading list.”

3rd Grade Reading.net Bonita Herold

Burton’s Friendship Garden is the second title in the Burton the Scarecrow Friendship Tales from the Farm series. This educational series for children ages 6-10 teaches valuable lessons about farming, gardening, helping others, and development of compassion and character. A pleasant, color-illustrated tale of Burton and his female scarecrow friend, Ribbon, Burton’s Friendship Garden tells how Burton and Ribbon organize their animal friends to help Farmer Green when his broken leg stops him from planting his spring garden and crops. Carefully, all the animals help to gather the seeds and tools, prepare the ground, and plant and water the seedlings. Because they want to help Farmer Green, they name it Friendship Garden. Weeding, watering, thinning, cultivating are all gardening activities shared by the animal friends. Soon harvest time approaches, and Burton and Ribbon take Farmer Green (on crutches) to see his Friendship Garden. Farmer Green is very grateful for all the bounty of plentiful, fine vegetables and grains that his friends have planted and tended for him. At the end of Burton’s Friendship Garden is a handy Resource Guide for parents, teachers, and librarians, a little garden history, reader and listener tips and connecting points, ideas for activities, online references, and a glossary. Additional educational resources may be found at www.ScarecrowStories.com. Income from this publication helps support Feed the Children, a charity that provides hope and resources to those without life’s essentials.”

Midwest Book Review