Carolyn Strom Collins

Highly recommended to fans of the novel. Avl. on openlibrary.org.

A fairly quick read as it's so lucid and well-organized... no need to read every word of the instructions for things one won't make, but all fans of the book must, imo, at least look at every gorgeous page.

I like the ending text:

"The Secret Garden reminds us that whether we are rich or poor, privileged or neglected, nurture and careful cultivation will make the difference between a satisfying life and one that is stunted and show more forever struggling for air and light."

I also appreciate the extensive glossary, bibliography, and index.

I hope to make the second oat cakes, recipe on p. 72. show less

This is a nice companion to the Anne series with historical information, information about the author, recipes, crafts, and great illustrations.

Written for children, this book's activities encompass things like simple crafts and recipes as it talks about various aspects of the Little House books.

What I loved the most, however were the floor plans given of the homes, even the dugout on Plum Creek. While Laura was always very good at description, sometimes it just so nice to have it laid out for you without having to build it sentence by sentence in your brain.

This book is a lovely companion to the [Anne of Green Gables] series. I love the floor plan of Green Gables and the tea time recipes. The illustrations are beautiful and the map of Avonlea really helps build Anne's world and allow the reader to see the world through her eyes.