Plant a Seed, Read! | Summer Reading 2026

A few books about gardens, gardening, and (of course) gnomes that tie into this year's summer reading theme.

Updated March 25, 2026
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) Oregon City Public Library
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
Gardening lab for kids : 52 fun experiments to learn, grow, harvest, make, play, and enjoy your garden
Brown, Renata Fossen.
Ebook
A refreshing source of ideas to help your children learn to grow their own patch of earth, Gardening Lab for Kids encourages children to get outside and enjoy nature. This fun and creative book features 52 plant-related activities set into weekly lessons, beginning with learning to...

Children's Nonfiction (Grades 2-4)

Box tales. Grow, strawberries, grow!
Burks, James
Paper Book
"Fun, expressive, informative, and imaginative! I want a box full of these books!" --Ben Clanton, New York Times bestselling author of the Narwhal and Jelly A trilogy of fun, charming, and how-to stories following the curious and spunky Beatrix and Box-With a Bonus...

Bridging Graphic Novel (Grades 2-4)

Diary of a worm
Cronin, Doreen.
Paper Book
#1 New York Times Bestseller! This hilarious picture book from the bestselling, acclaimed author-illustrator team of Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss tells the adventures of a worm through his daily diary entries. This is the diary of a worm. This worm lives...

Picture Book (PreK-2)

Planting a rainbow
Ehlert, Lois.
Paper Book
In this perennial classic by Caldecott Honor-winning author Lois Ehlert, little ones learn the colors of the rainbow as they watch a plants grow in a beautifully vibrant garden. Through brilliant, textured cut paper collages, the story follows the progress of a mother and daughter in their...

Picture Book (PreK-2)

Monarch butterfly
Gibbons, Gail
Paper Book
Introduce young readers to the fascinating process of how catepillars become butterflies. Follow the transformation from a tiny white egg laid on a leaf to a brilliantly colored butterfly in this kid-friendly introduction to metamorphosis.  With detailed, bright watercolors,...

Children's Nonfiction (PreK-2)

Outdoor science lab for kids : 52 family-friendly experiments for the yard, garden, playground, and park
Heinecke, Liz Lee
Ebook

Children's Nonfiction (Grades 2-4)

My garden
Henkes, Kevin.
Paper Book
How does your garden grow? A wondrous New York Times bestselling picture book from Caldecott medalist Kevin Henkes. A girl helps out in her mother's garden, but in the garden of her imagination, there are chocolate rabbits, tomatoes as big as beach balls, flowers that change color, and...

Picture Book (PreK-2)

The way of the hive : a honey bee's story
Hosler, Jay
Paper Book
"A wonderful graphic novel."--Neil Gaiman Experience the life of a honeybee in this coming-of-age story about a bee named Nyuki, in this full-color graphic novel by Jay Hosler, perfect for curious kids who are fans of the Science Comics series. Nyuki is a brand-new honeybee--and she...

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

Stepping stones
Knisley, Lucy
Paper Book
NATIONAL BESTSELLER * The first book in an acclaimed graphic novel series inspired by the author's own childhood tells an amazing story of unlikely friends, sisters, and home. "This candid, heartwarming look at a child grappling with major changes will resonate with fans of...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

The flower garden
Kurilla, Rene?e
Paper Book
After planting a seed packet in the backyard, things don't go as expected for best friends Anna and Tess. They fall asleep in the sun and wake up to blooms as tall as buildings! Did the seeds really grow that fast? All is explained when Anna and Tess meet May, a little garden gnome...

Bridging Graphic Novel (Grades 2-4)

Frog and toad together
Lobel, Arnold.
Paper Book
The beloved classic about friendship--a Newbery Honor Book! Frog and Toad are best friends--they do everything together. When Toad admires the flowers in Frog's garden, Frog gives him seeds to grow a garden of his own. When Toad bakes cookies, Frog helps him eat them. And when both...

Early Readers (Grades K-2)

Millie Fleur's poison garden
Mandin, Christy
Paper Book
*A great book for holiday gifting, and one of the best picture books of 2024! *An instant New York Times and Indie Bestseller! Wednesday Addams meets The Curious Garden in this delightfully peculiar story. Millie Fleur's Poison Garden is a...

Picture Book (PreK-2)

The hidden rainbow
Matheson, Christie
Paper Book
All the colors of the rainbow are hidden in the garden, but can the little bee find them--with help from the reader Christie Matheson, author of the popular and acclaimed Tap the Magic Tree, brings a garden to life in this bright, interactive picture book about the natural...

Picture Book (PreK-2)

Eliza and the flower fairies
McDonald, Megan
Paper Book
"[A] joyful tale of learning to believe in oneself and rejoicing in magic both grandiose and mundane."--Publishers Weekly From the beloved author of the Judy Moody and Stink series comes the first in a sparkling series of chapter books about a girl whose love for magic...

Bridging Fiction (Grades 2-4)

If you plant a seed
Nelson, Kadir
Paper Book
The bestselling book about the power of one kind act from Caldecott Medal and Coretta Scott King Award winner Kadir Nelson. "Timeless and delectable."--School Library Journal If you plant a carrot seed . . . a carrot will grow. If you plant a cabbage seed . . . cabbage will...

Picture Book (PreK-2)

All the insects in the world
Opie, David
Paper Book
Imagine you shrank to the size of a pennyand walked around outside. You mightsee a river of ants, a swooping dragonflyscooping up a mosquito, or a buzzingbumblebee hovering over a flower, sippingsweet nectar. You might even see a twigstaring back at you with its eyes. Andif you look closely, you'll...

Children's Nonfiction (PreK-2)

How to say hello to a worm : a first guide to outside
Percival, Kari
Paper Book
Say "hello" to worms, dirt, peas, and more in this gentle how-to guide for connecting with nature. * Winner of the EZRA JACK KEATS WRITER AWARD * An ALA Notable Children's Book * A CLEL Bell Award Winner The beautiful simplicity of a...

Picture Book (PreK-2)

The hidden world of gnomes
Soloy, Lauren
Ebook
A delightful introduction and collection of facts about the secret lives of gnomes that will charm and fascinate readers of all ages. This book is an introduction to the hidden folk called gnomes, who live in a happy place they call The Pocket. Where is The Pocket, you ask? ...

Picture Book (PreK-2)

Gnome and Rat
Stohler, Lauren
Paper Book
Readers will get a kick out of the whimsical and hilarious everyday shenanigans of best friends, Gnome and Rat, in the first book of this new early graphic novel series. " Mo Willems fans appreciate expertly crafted comedy, and this endearing early graphic novel has some of the best....

Bridging Graphic Novel (Grades 2-4)

Little Witch Hazel : a year in the forest
Wahl, Phoebe
Paper Book
Little Witch Hazel is a tiny witch who lives in the forest, helping creatures big and small. She's a midwife, an intrepid explorer, a hard worker and a kind friend. In this four-season volume, Little Witch Hazel rescues an orphaned egg, goes sailing on a raft, solves the mystery of a haunted stump...

Picture Book (PreK-2)

The secret garden on 81st street : a modern graphic retelling of The secret garden
Weir, Ivy Noelle
Paper Book
The Secret Garden with a twist: in this follow-up to Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, this full-color graphic novel moves Mary Lennox to a New York City brownstone, where she and her very first group of friends restore an abandoned rooftop garden...and her uncle's heart.

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)


Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.