We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines (with her children) surprised me in the best possible way.
I’ve been a longtime admirer of Joanna Gaines through her design work and television projects. In fact, our family particularly loves her cookbooks and have found some of her recipes to be staples in our home. When I saw this picture book, co-written with her children, I admit I was skeptical. Celebrity books can feel like marketing exercises. But Joanna Gaines is nothing if not compelling, so I added it to my wishlist. When I found a copy at a library book sale, I happily brought it home—and I’m so glad I did.
This book is actually quite lovely. The story itself is simple, but it is told from the perspective of someone who really does love to garden and who has worked to develop that love in her children as well. Not only does she speak to children in a voice they will understand and appreciate, but she also works in the trademark humor that is so much a part of Chip and Joanna Gaines’s brand.
The book explains how Chip found a little fern at the hardware store and brought it home. Joanna and the kids put the fern in a sunny window and then watered it every day. As they said, they loved it to death.
When the fern died, they decided to try again, but this time they got books from the library and they learned how to take good care of plants. This time they were successful and Joanna started adding more and more plants to their home. Finally, Chip tells them that it is time to take this passion outside.
The story is a delight. But it is also a honest and living story that will help children understand how to garden properly and how to develop the habits that will serve them for a lifetime.
With its whimsical illustrations and encouraging tone, We Are the Gardeners is a joy to read. It’s not just a storybook—it’s a gentle introduction to gardening, perseverance, and delighting in the slow work of growing things well. I’m so pleased to have it in our library and would gladly recommend it to families who garden or hope to, homeschoolers looking to tie literature into their nature studies, or anyone who appreciates a picture book that blends story with meaningful, hands-on learning.