Subtitled a "Story of Encouragement for All Ages," the Trellis and the Seed tells the story of how "God has planned something beautiful" for even the tiniest, most unassuming little seed.
The tiny seed begins its mysterious journey in the hands of the seemingly omnipotent "Nice Lady," who predicts--much to the seed's disbelief--that it will make a "beautiful vine with sweet-smelling blossoms." Even as the Nice Lady plants the seed, erects an ambitious trellis, waits for rain, adds fertilizer, and performs all her other nurserial oblations, the seed continues to be baffled by its caretaker's faith. ("It was only a seed, and very, very small. How could it ever be a beautiful vine with blossoms?") How indeed? Suffice it to say, God doesn't send a crafty bird to eat the seed in a harrowing third-act changeup.
Jan Karon's story of patience and faith shows the same folksy charm that infuses her Mitford Years series, and her gentle words find a soothing complement in the skilled, muted watercolors of Robert Gantt Steele (of the Her Story series). (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-In this heavy-handed story, a tiny seed faces what seem like insurmountable odds, but slowly grows and eventually reaches its full potential. Although the Nice Lady talks to it of what it will become, it does not believe it will ever be anything but small. Planted in front of a huge trellis that seemed "a million trillion feet high," it can't imagine ever climbing that high. Still, with the help of the rain and a little time, the plant makes it most of the way up before it wearies. Then the Nice Lady comes out, hums a little tune, and applies "something smelly around the roots," and the vine finally makes it to the top of the trellis and produces white flowers that bloom in the moonlight. This sentimental tale will appeal to those who like their allegories neat and straight up. Featuring colorful, flower-bedecked depictions of a country cottage, Steele's static watercolors monotonously reflect the story's action. Watty Piper's straightforward The Little Engine That Could (Platt & Munk, 1930) conveys the same message without the precious language and has a lot more child appeal.Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VACopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
The Trellis and the Seed ANNOTATION
A small seed surprises itself by becoming a flowering moonflower vine.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
From the author of the beloved Mitford series -- a timeless story of hope, faith, and the beauty of everyday miracles....
In this gently told parable, Jan Karon tells a story of patience, of the special rewards that come from being a little bit different from everyone else, and of the courage to believe in oneself.
In a picturesque and secluded garden, a tiny seed sits in thrilled anticipation of its destiny as a powerful vine, twisting and flowering through the white latticework trellis. But how could such a small seed ever thrive and grow into a strong, healthy, grown-up plant? "Don't worry," Mother Earth says. "God has planned something beautiful for you." But time passes, and the little seed doesn't believe it.
Beautifully illustrated and filled with faith and love, The Trellis and the Seed is Jan Karon at her very best -- an inspiration for all ages and an important lesson on God's love for all creatures great and small.
FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature - Chris Gill
Given a small nameless seed, a gardener stores it until spring. Then, she plants the tiny seed in the cold earth and gives it its own tall trellis to climb. The seed does not know what to expect, but soon feels a "tickle" and a "kiss" as it develops tiny roots and shoots. It grows and grows, stopping short of the top of the trellis when it feels it can grow no longer. The gardener supplies fertilizer to give the vine an extra boost, and sure enough it climbs to the top of the trellis—and beyond. All of the other bushes, flowers, and trees in the garden burst into beautiful bloom. But the healthy vine seems only to sprout tendrils and leaves. One night under the beams of a full moon, feelings of a "tickle" and a "kiss" return. Rushing to the garden in her nightgown and bare feet, the gardener sees the delicate white blossoms of the night-blooming moonflower. Not only is the vine more beautiful than ever, but it also fills the air with a delicious scent. Now both the gardener and the grown vine realize the plant's true nature which they brought to fruition together. Subtitled A Book of Encouragement for All Ages, this book is 32 pages long on high quality paper with soft illustrations that evoke a mood of mystery and meditation. Many readers will recognize Jan Karon's name from her popular "Mitford Years" series. 2003, Viking, Ages 7 up.
School Library Journal
Gr 1-3-In this heavy-handed story, a tiny seed faces what seem like insurmountable odds, but slowly grows and eventually reaches its full potential. Although the Nice Lady talks to it of what it will become, it does not believe it will ever be anything but small. Planted in front of a huge trellis that seemed "a million trillion feet high," it can't imagine ever climbing that high. Still, with the help of the rain and a little time, the plant makes it most of the way up before it wearies. Then the Nice Lady comes out, hums a little tune, and applies "something smelly around the roots," and the vine finally makes it to the top of the trellis and produces white flowers that bloom in the moonlight. This sentimental tale will appeal to those who like their allegories neat and straight up. Featuring colorful, flower-bedecked depictions of a country cottage, Steele's static watercolors monotonously reflect the story's action. Watty Piper's straightforward The Little Engine That Could (Platt & Munk, 1930) conveys the same message without the precious language and has a lot more child appeal.-Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
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