Maxine and the Greatest Garden Ever!

Maxine and the Greatest Garden Ever! is a companion book to Made by Maxine, In this second story, Maxine continues to craft creatively with a leaning toward the practical, mechanical, and electronic solutions to problems. Her goldfish, Milton, receives yet another extensive living space. Meanwhile, her younger brother remains anonymous and uninvited to participate. Her parents are very much of the “give permission and then stand back” type. Another friend who likes crafting is introduced. Leo likes making things, but his emphasis is on a pleasant appearance more than function. Together, Maxine and Leo decide to plan and execute a garden. Though their plans differ, they agree on a multi-level pond for Milton. After many days of watering and waiting, the garden is successful, so successful that it is overrun by raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, birds, and even a skunk. Leo and Maxine create a scarecrow to protect the garden. Their first effort has no effect on the wildlife. A second scarecrow, complete with movement, bellowing tuba, sweeping spotlights, and a disco ball, disturbs the entire neighbourhood. Maxine and Leo argue about who is responsible for the failure, and Leo goes home. The next day, Maxine “had to make things better, and she wanted to start with Leo. Because it takes a long time to grow a garden…but even longer to grow a friend.” Maxine and Leo, friends again, decide that, if they repair, replant and reorganize, they can share the garden with the animals.

Ruth Spiro and Holly Hatam have created a bright colourful story of crafting and friendship that will appeal to children while subtly pointing to some important life lessons.

1. Children with different skill sets can work together.
2. Failure is part of the process. Try again and don’t give up.
3. Friendship is to be cherished and it needs work.
4. Girls can be the technical and practical ones.
5. Wildlife should be considered in urban planning.

Warning: Serious vegetable gardeners may find Maxine and Leo’s garden design frustrating. There is much surface glitz and much less food production. The vegetables are not presented realistically. The leaves of the plants don’t match the fruit. The carrots grow with only their tips in the ground. The final redesign planned to make the garden friendly to animals and children actually reduces the area of food production.

My target audience, my granddaughter (currently 2 ¾ years old), requested that Maxine and the Greatest Garden Ever! be read numerous times. She particularly enjoyed all the animals and that Maxine’s hair had colours (red and blue) in it.