On a field trip to a flower farm, Maria and Mateo are immersed in the colorful world of plants. But where there are plants, there are also bugs. And if there’s one thing Mateo can’t stand, it’s creepy-crawlies! Can he overcome his disgust to learn the importance of insects for plant life? Cousins Maria and Mateo are two curious second graders who love experiencing new things, and their school’s field trips are the perfect opportunities to do just that. Join these high-spirited cousins as they learn more about themselves and the world around them through field trips to a zoo, a natural history museum, an orchestra, and a flower farm. “[H]ighly recommended for family, elementary school, and community library collections for children ages 6-8.” —Midwest Book Review “Young readers will enjoy this exciting new series, which combines education and entertainment in a wonderfully magical way. The illustrations bring the children's experiences to life before the reader’s eyes. Garden of Yuck! is an inspiring and entertaining narrative for nature lovers of all ages.” —Children’s Literature "The Maria and Mateo series is a simple yet fun and informative set of books." —Midwest Book Review "[T]hese installments offer exciting, lesson-filled field trip experiences for young readers." —School Library Journal Hannah Carmona is the best-selling picture book author of Anita and the Dragons, Dazzling Travis, and Beautiful, Wonderful, Strong Little Me!, as well as the author of the series Maria and Mateo Take the Stage. She started out as a stage actor, with a BA in theater from Western Kentucky University, and went on to direct children’s theater for many years after. Now, when Hannah is not writing, she narrates audiobooks and spends time studying herbal medicine. Hannah lives in Tennessee with her two daughters and dog who thinks he's a cat. Adriana Predoi grew up in Romania, where she studied mural art in high school and later earned a BA in Fine Arts. She now focuses on children’s illustration and works from her home studio in London. Her style is whimsical and features a touch of magic. She gets inspiration from plants, nature, and best of all, books! In her free time, she loves reading fiction, writing stories for children, and making a total mess in the kitchen.