I would like to share a new children’s book with you called Through the Garden Gate: Where Wonder Grows which I received in exchange for this review. Inside this post is my affiliate links. If you click on the links and make a purchase I will make a small percentage from the products you purchase.
I was working this morning and my eye kept checking out a new children’s book called Through the Garden Gate which was sitting on my desk because the cover kept capturing my attention. For me I can look at the cover of a children’s book and immediately know I want to step inside the story. Are you this way?
That’s how I felt when I stopped and picked up the book and looked more closely at Through the Garden Gate which has a gate with a heart on it and a little boy waiting to walk through the gate. This children’s book is written by Sharon Rose, illustrated by Aaron Brown. For my family Sharon Rose is a new Author to us but after checking out this book I can’t wait to check out other books by her.
There are birds Charlie liked, butterflies that called to me, ladybugs Suzzane would have liked, flowers my mother in law would have liked walking through, and so many little things to discover. And honestly, I wish I could walk through that gate myself and get to know the little boy better while checking out the animals. Would you want to come with us?
The story begins with a boring summer day for Miles which all of us have faced at time. But an ordinary visit to a neighbor leads him to a mysterious garden gate everyone would like to check out, and once he steps through it, his afternoon becomes an adventure filled with magic, fascinating creatures, fairies, and plants.
It’s the kind of story that makes you want to see what’s on the other side of the gate. And as I looked through the book, I couldn’t help thinking about my own family. David would probably be drawn to the fanciful fairies. Charlie would be following along with the curious critters. And I would probably stop every few feet to look at the flowers and plants because I would love to have some of them in my own flower garden.
The butterflies and ladybugs immediately made me think of Suzanne because I know she would have loved them. I also found myself wishing that my mother-in-law and I could walk through this garden together. There are so many beautiful pink flowers throughout the illustrations, and I could imagine us stopping to look at them along the way.
The illustrations by Aaron Brown are one of my favorite parts of this book. They aren’t simply pictures placed alongside the story. They make the garden feel like a place you could actually enter. You can look at the pages and find little details that you might miss if you rush through them. Birds, butterflies, flowers, animals, and all sorts of magical things invite you to slow down and explore the illustrations.
And that’s something I think children will love. I would put this book in the upper-elementary range, although the story is accessible enough that an older child or even an adult who isn’t a confident reader could enjoy reading it independently. I could even see David sitting down with this one and reading it himself. But one of the things that really impressed me is that the book doesn’t stop being educational when the story ends.
At the back, readers can learn more about some of the plants and animals that appear in the story. And that opens up an entirely different adventure. You can learn about the California poppy, crabgrass, jasmine, sweet pea, morning glories, moonflower, paper birch trees, bougainvillea, and other plants.
The sweet peas especially caught my attention because my grandmother Dorie always had sweet peas in her yard, along with morning glories. Then there’s Mimosa pudica, which I had never really learned about before. It’s fascinating because the plant actually responds to touch. Its leaves curl up when they are touched or shaken.
That’s the kind of thing that makes a child say, “Wait…plants can do that?” And suddenly you’ve gone from reading a story to wanting to learn more about science. There are animals to discover too, including gophers and the other creatures that appear throughout the garden. That’s why I think this book would be wonderful for a homeschool family.
You could use Through the Garden Gate for reading. You could use it for language arts. You could turn the plants into a science lesson. You could study animals. You could start a gardening project and plant some of the flowers mentioned in the book. You could even have children draw their own garden gate and create the magical garden they would find on the other side.
And, of course, this book can become part of our 30 Minutes of Reading Challenge. A child could spend 30 minutes reading the story, studying the illustrations, and then looking through the information at the back of the book. That is exactly the kind of reading I love encouraging. Reading doesn’t have to end when you reach the last page.
Sometimes the best books make you want to learn something else. They make you ask questions. They make you want to plant something. They make you want to look for butterflies in your own backyard. They make you remember people you love. And sometimes they make you wish you could open a garden gate and step into another world. That’s what Through the Garden Gate did for me.
I hope you’ll take the time to check out this beautiful children’s book and follow Miles through the garden as he discovers the friends, plants, animals, and adventures waiting on the other side. And if you have a young reader at home, I think this could be one of those books that leads to an entire afternoon of conversation and discovery. Open the gate. Turn the page. See where the adventure takes you.
About the book:
A magical picture book that blends imagination, nature, and discovery, Through the Garden Gate invites young readers on a whimsical journey through a hidden garden filled with real plants and enchanting surprises.
“Luxuriant, floral-thick illustrations flesh out this exciting picture book about falling in love with the wonders of nature.” —Foreword Reviews
“Lush, whimsical, and likely to plant seeds for reading The Secret Garden.” —Booklist
When Miles stumbles upon a neighbor’s mysterious gate, he steps into a world of wonder—where talking animals, fluttering fairies, and extraordinary plants await. Inspired by native ecology and brought to life through lush, timeless illustrations, this gentle adventure encourages children to look more closely at the natural world around them.
Why Readers Will Love This Book:
• Fantasy Meets Nature:A magical tale grounded in real ecological knowledge and native plants.
• Lush, Classic Illustrations: Every page bursts with detail, inspiring curiosity and imaginative play.
• Interactive Learning: Features educational backmatter and a garden-themed seek-and-find activity.
• Created by an Expert:Written by a garden designer with a passion for native ecology and childhood wonder.
A perfect gift for budding gardeners, fairy lovers, and young explorers, Through the Garden Gate opens the door to wonder waiting just outside.
Meet the Author: Sharon Rose an award-winning garden designer and environmental artist based in San Francisco, California. As the owner of STUDIO SF Landscape Design, founded in 2018, she specializes in revitalizing natural landscapes and creating unique garden spaces. With over two decades of experience and extensive knowledge of California native and Mediterranean plants, Sharon’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Sunset Magazine, and Luxe Interiors & Design. In her free time, she enjoys gardening and teaching children about the magic and wonder of plants.
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates