Celebrating Ruth Spiro's New Book, Maxine and the Greatest Garden Ever, With A Special Birthday Zoom At Van Meter!

 

We love to celebrate book birthdays, especially when it is with one of our favorite authors!  

On February 16, our students and teachers at Van Meter, helped our special friend, Ruth Spiro, celebrate the book birthday of her new book, 

Maxine and the Greatest Garden Ever, with a fun Zoom.  

We had students join from their classrooms, and even a few who are learning at home. 

Maxine and the Greatest Garden joins another favorite, Made By Maxine.   Both are illustrated by the amazing, Holly Hatum. 

As shared online, 

Best friends Maxine and Leo combine their maker and artistic skills to create (and save!) the ultimate garden in this empowering, STEM-focused picture book

After sketching and plotting and planting, Maxine and Leo know they've made The Greatest Garden Ever! But they're not the only ones who think so. Soon, all sorts of animals make their way in, munching on carrots and knocking over pots. When Leo and Maxine can't agree on a way to deter these unwelcome critters, it looks like there's more on the line than saving their garden--they just might need to save their friendship too.

Ruth read Maxine and the Greatest Garden Ever to the kids and then showed the kids different seeds, like an avocado and lemon seed, she has planted at her house this winter.  

She also showed us how to create our own flowers out of recycled magazines by making little hearts and putting them together on a cool straw.  And look what she sent us!  We planted it and can't wait to see what kind of flowers grow. 

Ruth also answered lots of wonderful questions from our kids and we....

 

...all loved learning even more about Maxine and Ruth's work. 

Thank you, Ruth for connecting with our kids at Van Meter.  We had such a great time celebrating Maxine and we can't wait to see what you share with us next. 

You can read more about Ruth's book and work on her website here.