A Trip through the Garden

Children's books written by Kim McGlynn's IB English HL: World Literature students and illustrated by Jo Adachi's Painting & Drawing students.

Children's Literature Collaboration Project

Lily was still confused. &#8220;What do you mean, daddy?&#8221; Her father says, &#8220;they grow and change, Lily.&#8221; &#8220;Why do they grow?&#8221; Lily asks. &#8220;Here, let us show you,&#8221; her mother says.

Lily and her parents are enjoying the day in their backyard. Her parents work in the garden as Lily plays with her toys in the grass.<br />

It&#8217;s a warm and sunny spring day; the flowers are blooming, the trees grow their leaves, and the sun is shining.

Lily&#8217;s mother sticks out her hand to show her a lone seed. &#8220;This little seed grows into these flowers.&#8221; She pointed to the flowers. &#8220;It&#8217;s a part of their lives, just as it&#8217;s a part of our lives.&#8221; 

And with that, Lily&#8217;s parents hugged her tightly, and Lily understood what it meant to grow.

Lily walks over to her parents and asks, &#8220;Mommy, daddy, what are you doing?&#8221;

Lily looks down into her hand to see the tiny seeds. &#8220;But these aren&#8217;t flowers, mommy.&#8221; &#8220;They will be one day, sweetie,&#8221; her father says chuckling.

Lily and her parents stop in front of a beautiful arrangement of flowers. Lily was in awe of the different shapes and colors each flower took. 

&#8220;This is their final stage,&#8221; her father says. &#8220;Now, they have grown into beautiful flowers!&#8221;

&#8220;Hold on a second, honey,&#8221; she says to Lily. She bends down to face Lily and pours a few seeds into Lily&#8217;s hand. &#8220;We&#8217;re planting these. These are flowers.&#8221;

&#8220;These are flowers?&#8221; Lily asked. &#8220;These don&#8217;t look like flowers.&#8221; &#8220;They aren&#8217;t done growing yet, Lily,&#8221; her mother said. &#8220;They are taking in the soil and water and sunshine so that they can grow into full flowers.&#8221; 

Lily&#8217;s parents lead her further through their garden.<br />

Lily follows her parents down through the garden to the next stage of the flowers&#8217; growth. &#8220;In this stage, the flowers begin to grow,&#8221; her mother says. &#8220;How do they grow?&#8221; Lily asks. 

&#8220;Flowers need soil, water, and plenty of sunshine to grow,&#8221; her father says.

Lily sticks out her hand and spreads the seeds into the dirt. &#8220;Now, we have to put some dirt on top of those seeds to keep them covered.&#8221; &#8220;Why do they need to be covered?&#8221; Lily asks. 

&#8220;The seeds are covered to keep them comfortable and safe for their long journey of growth,&#8221; her mother says.

&#8220;Lily,&#8221; her mother says, &#8220;this is the first stage of a flower&#8217;s growth. First, the seeds have to be planted. Take those seeds you have in your hand and sprinkle them in the dirt.&#8221;<br />

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