By Phyllis Root and Gary D.Schmidt
Art by Melissa Sweet
Published by Candlewick Press
“Sweet’s lush, detailed watercolor, gouache, and mixed-media illustrations greatly enhance the text. . . . A splendid introduction to a lesser-known nature poet and the landscapes that inspired her.”
Celia Thaxter grew up on a desolate island off the coast of Maine, where her father worked as a lighthouse keeper. Amid the white and gray of the sea, the rocks, and even the birds, young Celia found color where she could: green mosses and purple starfish and pink morning glories by the shore. And she planted her first garden, tucking bright marigolds between rocky ledges. When she was twelve, Celia’s family moved to nearby Appledore Island, where her father built a large hotel, and Celia planted a bigger, ever-growing garden with nearly sixty types of flowers, from asters to wisteria.
Guests flocked to the hotel from around the world, among them such writers as Longfellow, Whittier, and Hawthorne. Celia had been writing poems about the island, her garden, and the sea, and they would be printed in magazines and books, making her a foremother of writing about nature. Now, for the first time, Celia Planted a Garden showcases her life and work, in a poetic, vividly imagined picture book from a team of two authors and an illustrator, each recipient of numerous awards. More about Celia Thaxter, including a rich timeline and bibliography, awaits readers in the back matter.
Find CELIA PLANTED A GARDEN: THE STORY OF CELIA THAXTER AND HER ISLAND GARDEN at local independent book stores, through IndieBound, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or in your local library.
“Root and Schmidt describe Celia’s seasonal activities with great admiration, carefully naming the flower and bird species to which she felt so deeply connected. Sweet’s lush, detailed watercolor, gouache, and mixed-media illustrations greatly enhance the text. . . . A splendid introduction to a lesser-known nature poet and the landscapes that inspired her. ”
“Sweet’s illustrations follow the text’s lead. . . Thaxter’s devotion to her titular garden shines bright.”
“Vivid nature writing infuses this picture book biography of New England artist and poet Celia Thaxter (1835–1894). . . . In mixed media, Sweet showcases florals on every page, weaving in quotes from Thaxter’s own writing.”