On Meadowview Street

Henry Cole

Caroline lives on Meadowview street. But where's the meadow? Where's the view? There's nothing growing in her front yard except grass. Then she spots a flower. And a butterfly. And a wren. And caroline realizes that with her help, maybe meadowview street can have a meadow after all.

Date2007

ISBN0060564814

ISBN-139780060564810

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Reviews

"...multiple shades of green, dotted with hues of summer flowers tell this nature-lover's story which suggests the possibility of chemical-free garden environments. Gentle persuasion for the naturallist in everyone." —Kirkus Starred Review

"When Caroline and her family move to a ticky-tacky suburban development, their street's pleasant name prompts an exploratory stroll 'to see if there was a meadow on Meadowview Street.' The girl doesn't get far before she spies a solitary flower on her own lawn. “'It's beautiful!' she thought. ”'And all alone.'“ Caroline cordons off the bloom, creating a “small wildflower preserve” that expands as her thoughtful additions (a maple; birdfeeders; a pond) allow nature to take root and thrive. The jab at soulless suburbia and its faux-bucolic trappings may be most appreciated by adults, but the crucial message (especially about the importance of “green corridors,” migration paths for birds and beasts) will speak strongly to today's ecologically aware children. And it's done without stridency. Cole's understated watercolors match the tale's gentle tone, while still showcasing the satisfying contrast between the antiseptic tract houses and the riotous, organic tangle of Caroline's front-yard Eden. The artwork also hints at the metaphorical blossoming of the lonely newcomer as the growth of the garden both parallels and prompts new connections with neighborhood children. Similarities abound with Sarah Stewart's The Gardener (1997), a natural companion, but this story's contemporary setting will have particular resonance for many young readers, who can identify with the empowered girl as they applaud her efforts' many benefits." —Booklist Starred Review

"The jab at soulless suburbia and its faux-bucolic trappings may be most appreciated by adults, but the crucial message (especially about the importance of 'green corridors', migration paths for birds and beasts,) will speak strongly to today's ecologically aware children. Cole's understated watercolors match the tale's gentle tone, while still showcasing the satisfying contrast between the antiseptic tract houses and the riotous, organic tangle of Caroline’s front yard Eden. The artwork also hints at the metaphorical blossoming of the lonely newcomer as the growth of the garden both parallels and prompts new connections with neighborhood children." —Book Links Starred Review