In this exuberant and lyrical addition to the award-winning Over and Under series, emerging readers will delight in discovering the wonders that lie hidden between stalks, under the shade of leaves, and down in the dirt. From the author-illustrator team behind Over and Under the Snow and Over and Under the Pond . Explore the secret realm beneath the dirt that brings the world of nature to life: Follow a young girl and her grandmother on a journey through the year planning, planting, and harvesting their garden—and learn about what's happening in the dirt to help make it all happen.   Up in the garden, the world is full of green—leaves and sprouts, growing vegetables, ripening fruit. But down in the dirt exists a busy world—earthworms dig, snakes hunt, skunks burrow—populated by all the creatures that make a garden their home.   These secrets and many others are waiting to be discovered up in the garden and down in the dirt in this sweet children’s book from Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal, the latest in their beloved series that offers kids a peek into hidden ecosystems. ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL: Beautiful illustrations paired with an easy-to-follow storyline make this a great read for any early elementary school student, while a glossary of animals that live in, around, and under the garden enriches the reading experience. INSPIRES A LOVE A NATURE: Offering a look inside a hidden and bustling underground ecosystem, this gorgeously illustrated book encourages children to explore the world around them and appreciate the natural wonders they discover.   A FIVE-STAR FAVORITE OF READERS & REVIEWERS: "The harmonious relationships above and below ground, and those between the two, emphasize the complexities of the garden ecosystem, as well as the joys of sustained engagement with the land."— The Horn Book Magazine ; "Offers excellent coming attractions for what youngsters can expect when they try to grow something." — Reading Today Perfect for: A great read-aloud book for home or school - Parents looking for enchanting bedtime reads or nature books for kids - Fans of books like  A Different Pond ,  A Seed is Sleepy ,  An Egg Is Quiet ,  Because of an Acorn , and  Over and Under the Rainforest  and others in the Over and Under series - Any kid who loves picture books about science, nature, or animals Gr 1–3—Beneath every garden lies a secret world down in the dirt. In this enchanting follow-up to Over and Under the Snow (Chronicle, 2011), Messner explores that underground realm. This yearlong adventure begins early in spring, with a young girl learning from her grandmother that the soil is still too cold and wet to begin planting. The pair make plans while earthworms and insects work in the dirt. As the year goes by, they tend to the garden, weeding, watering, and keeping away pests, and later harvesting vegetables. The illustrations are marked by rich brown earth tones, highlighted by brighter colors here and there (a red wheelbarrow, yellow boots) as the seasons reveal themselves slowly. Spreads detail the often unseen life all around the garden, such as a praying mantis that eats mosquitoes, pill bugs that chew through leaves, honeybees that pollinate flowers, and a garter snake that hunts grasshoppers. Neal effectively uses light and dark to show the contrast between night and day; an image of foraging rabbits by day is eventually replaced by a nighttime scene of skunks "[working] the night shift." Each page invites readers to linger over the quiet text, which gently moves the story along. Back matter includes an author's note and a complete listing of the many creatures mentioned throughout. VERDICT A beautiful, informative addition to any collection.—Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA "This beautifully illustrated work shines a light on life beneath the surface."--Modern Luxury: Manhattan "Will have readers itching to get their hands dirty."--Baltimore Sun "The harmonious relationships above and below ground, and those between the two, emphasize the complexities of the garden ecosystem, as well as the joys of sustained engagement with the land."--The Horn Book Magazine "Offers excellent coming attractions for what youngsters can expect when they try to grow something."--Reading Today "This is a really sweet book that explains how nature helps make a garden, with teamwork."--This Kid Reviews Books Christopher Silas Neal is an award-winning illustrator whose work is published regularly in the New York Times and shown in galleries. He teaches illustration at Pratt Institute and lives in Brooklyn, New York. Kate Messner is the award-winning author of Over and Under the Snow , Sea Monster's First Day , Sea Monster and the Bossy Fish , and more than a dozen other books for young readers. Kate lives on Lake Champlain with her family.