Abad and Shamar are garden smart! They know all about gardening, from when to plant seeds to the amount of water to give any plant. But these two gardeners didn't always tend to the earth.
They used to be scarecrows! Find out just how they magically changed in How Abad and Shamar Became Gardeners, the delightful, illustrated children's book that teaches young readers and adults alike how to make gardening an enriching activity to not only cultivate beautiful, delicious plants and vegetables, but also help build a sense of community. Anyone who is drawn to the natural world will find rich soil in this vivid and inspiring work of fiction.
Written by Pastor Jeff Wild, this imaginative tale of two scarecrows explains how they were transformed by a crow in order to follow their dream of gardening the land that they once watched over. Biblical themes, including freedom, new life, and community are interwoven in the simple, joyful text. Original illustrations by Chelsea Mclean Johnson provide a multicultural emphasis, while demonstrating how Abad and Shamar dig deep into the soil to cultivate the garden, with the help of a community of children.
Uplifting and revelatory, How Abad and Shamar Became Gardeners will capture a child's sense of wonder and curiosity of the natural world, while showing children and adults how nurturing a garden can also nurture a community. As Abad and Shamar become empowered by using their passion for living things to connect with those around them, young readers will gain a new appreciation for the many blessings that may just spring from the soil in their own backyard.
About the Author: Author Jeff Wild is a pastor of Madison Christian Community (MCC), an ecumenical partnership of two congregations, Advent Lutheran (ELCA) and Community of Hope (UCC). He is the coauthor, with Peter Bakken, of Church on Earth: Grounding Your Ministry in a Sense of Place, which was published by Augsburg Fortress. Inspired by MCC's location on seven acres of property, in 2002 Wild initiated a now-thriving children's garden ministry in partnership with a nearby community center, which includes prairie restoration, community garden plots, a children's garden, and chickens. His children's book, How Abad and Shamar Became Gardeners, furthers his mission to build community through gardens.
The book's illustrator, Chelsea Mclean Johnson, is an architect based in San Francisco. She received her bachelor of arts degree from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and is a graduate of the School of Architecture, University of California, Berkeley.
