Garden Keeper's Choice: The Empty Pot
by Janet Woody, Librarian, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
It’s nearly time for Dominion GardenFest of Lights and Merry Mondays with the Garden Keeper. GardenFest (or GF as we call it around here) is fast approaching and we better remind the GK that she needs to have a terrific book selected for reading aloud. Let’s go to the Garden Keeper’s Cottage and she if she is at home.
Blogger: Knock Knock. Hello Garden Keeper, are you home? I’m here to ask about your book for Merry Mondays. Have you picked one out yet to read to the children?
GK: Hello Blogger. What in the world is a blogger? Oh never mind. Yes, I have a wonderful book picked out. It’s called The Empty Pot and it is by Demi. Just one name: Demi. And it’s not that actress lady.
Blogger: Is this book about plants? Is the empty pot supposed to hold a plant? Maybe it’s about soup in which case you have a lot of explaining to do.
GK: It’s a wonderful story about a little boy in China who does his best to grow a beautiful plant with seeds that the Emperor gave him.
Blogger: Wow, imagine the Emperor giving you seeds. That is a lot of pressure.
GK: Yes, the Emperor gave seeds to lots of boys and girls and told them to come back to see him when they have beautiful plants for him.
Blogger: What happens then?
GK: I certainly cannot tell you what happens. You will have to come to storytime in the Lora Robins Library during Merry Mondays to find out.
Blogger: Oh, of course. Well then can you tell me what you look for in a storytime book?
The Garden Keeper at storytime on Merry Mondays
GK: I’m like Goldilocks when I look for a book. It can’t be too long or too short. It can’t be too hard or too easy. It must have a nice story flow and it must have beautiful illustrations. It has to be nice to read and nice to hear.
Blogger: I guess The Empty Pot is just about right?
GK: In every way, plus it has suspense and drama and then a wonderful resolution. I highly recommend it. You should check it out when you aren’t blogging. Gee, that sounds painful.
Blogger: Yes, but someone has to do it, or how else would people know about The Empty Pot? I can’t wait for Monday, November 26 for your first storytime. I will leave my computer just to come and hear your story. Will you have the fireplace turned on? Will the Butterfly Fairy be there?
GK: For you, of course.
Merry Mondays at Dominion GardenFest of Lights: Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 10, 17, 31, Jan. 7; 5-8 p.m. Storytime fireside with the Garden Keeper and visits from the Butterfly Fairy in the Library Reading Room; Santa “sightings” in the Conservatory on Mondays through Dec. 17.