Bread Garden

By Sally D. Ketchum

An eccentric Swedish baker mentors three interesting children. The protagonist, Dalgliesh (Dogleash, ) is a black-Scottish boy whose name and mixed heritage cause him low self-esteem. Fredericka (Freddie) is a bright, forward-thinking girl who collects words and experiences. Her younger brother, Hank, is full of tag-along energy and fun, and he turns out to be surprisingly brave.

Other characters cause plot complications. The antagonist, Audrey/Stoneface, is the leader of a youthful neighborhood gang; and Moose is Audrey's slothful sidekick. Other characters include a harridan neighbor, Mrs. Harsnort; a proud judge, Dogleash's father; Mam, Dogleash's proud and regal grandmother (a gourmet cook); a gifted teacher, a veterinarian, a policeman, and others.

The baker encourages the children to garden and he uses that garden not only as a metaphor for life lessons, but also and perhaps more importantly, to teach the children higher level thinking skills like analysis and synthesis.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595528627
• ISBN13: 9780595528622
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 164 Pages
• Weight: 0.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Bread Garden

As someone who does after-school reading and writing programs for middle school children, I was completely delighted with the book, "Bread Garden". The plot is action-packed and keeps the reader interested, myself included. What really thrilled me was the way the author took a fascinating story and filled it with practical help for her readers. The book teaches! Children learn critical thinking. They are exposed to environmental concerns along with simple ways they can get involved to make a difference. Readers are likely to feel better about themselves because the book includes lessons that build self-esteem, hidden within its pages. This is simply one of the best books I have found for a middle reader audience.