I wrote a little longer review on my blog, but here is the condensed version: There are just so many good things here. One, it touches on the immigrant experience and how difficult it is to leave your country for another, one that is completely different. It’s not just the language and the culture that changes—it’s climate and plants and the landscape and all the things that make up outside.

That brings me to the second big thing I like about the book: the focus on nature. People should be going outside and learning about the plants and animals around them, as well as the history and folklore of the area. This builds connection with the world and with the place, as previously stated, and I would argue that this connection builds a stronger sense of purpose in life.

What else? The focus on family relationships is great, as is teaching specific plants. Oh, and the art is also beautiful and vibrant, and the little girl has a great sense of style. Overall, a good book.

This is a story of a girl trying to understand her mother and the sadness that winter brings. Her mother explains that the country she is from is very different then where they live now. The girl is able to travel to her mother's country and she watches as her mother comes "alive" being back in her homeland and the beauty she loves. Upon return to their current home, the winter brings sadness again. The daughter decides to show her mother how wonderful their current home can be as well. I really loved that the author incorporated native Mandarin in the telling of the mother's story. Very sweet and thoughtful book. It is a reminder that even if we live somewhere different, each place has a story and beauty, especially if you have the right guide. ( )

A Garden Called Home by Jessica J. Lee and illustrated by Elaine Chen is a delightful picture book that deserves a shining five stars. This beautifully crafted story effortlessly weaves together themes of love, belonging, and the wonders of nature. Lee's heartfelt writing and Chen's enchanting illustrations create a captivating world that will surely ignite the imagination of young readers.
From the very first page, readers are drawn into the charming world of the main characters as they discover the magic of a garden that truly becomes a home. Lee's prose is poetic and evocative, painting vivid images in the minds of children and adults alike. Chen's illustrations are a perfect complement to the story, bringing to life the lush beauty of the garden and the warm emotions of the characters.
A Garden Called Home is not just a book to be read; it is a book to be experienced. As a reader, I found myself completely immersed in the story, feeling a deep connection to the characters and their journey. This heartwarming tale is not only a fun read but also a touching exploration of the importance of family, friendship, and finding one's place in the world.
I highly recommend A Garden Called Home to readers of all ages. It is a book that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression, and I, for one, am looking forward to sharing this wonderful story with my own children someday soon.

A Garden Called Home by Jessica J. Lee and illustrated by Elaine Chen is an endearing story of a little girl who teaches her mother that where they live, despite its winters, also gives the hope of gardens and growing. Inspired by their trip to Mama's homeland in Taiwan, a place of heat and humidity and glorious green growth, she explores her own home to observe the plants and fungi that thrive in the forest nearby. She also convinces Mama to leave her hot tea and houseplants and come outside in the winter, to see the snow-covered trees, and to "show Mama that nature here can be wondrous too." In spring, the little girl and her Mama plant a "garden that feels like home," and readers learn about vegetables to remember Mama's homeland, mugwort, scallions, and cabbages, as well as local wildflowers including larkspurs, buttercups, and yarrow. Engaging, colourful illustrations and a glossary of plant names with pronunciations make this mother-daughter journey away and home again one to enjoy over and over, season to season.

An interesting book using plants and trees to differentiate between two cultures. A daughter shows her mom a corresponding scene in the weather between Taiwan and their new country trying to make her mom feel more comfortable in their new home. Many of the scenes cause you to stop and inhale the pleasures of your own surroundings,