Mr. Goethe's Garden

Mr. Goethe's Garden by Diana Cohn, illustrated by Paul Mirocha

"To know someone here and there who thinks and feels with us, and though distant is close to us in spirit, this makes the earth for us an inhabited garden." - Goethe

Mr. Goethe's Garden tells the story of a unique friendship between an inquisitive young girl, Irena, and her neighbor - the elderly, world-famous playwright, artist and natural scientist, Johann von Goethe. Irena visits Mr. Goethe in his well-tended garden where he teaches her to draw and to observe the world of nature in a special way. Set in the 1830s, this book was inspired by Goethe's life and his botanical treatise The Metamorphosis of the Plant. Exquisitely sensitive illustrations and elegant text reveal the intricate wonders of the plant kingdom. As the bonds of friendship deepen between Irena and her wise neighbor, she experiences a new way of seeing the natural cycle of the plant - from seed to flower to fruit and to seed again. “Like friends, plants tell you their secrets only when they know you care. Just practice listening with your eyes, and one day when you least expect it, you will see with your heart and be swept up into nature's dance.” An informative afterword describes the life of Goethe and his many accomplishments. 

Book Details:

• Number of Pages: 32
• Book Size: 8-1/4" x 12"
• Book Type: Hardcover with Dust Jacket
• Recommended Ages: 6-12
• ISBN 10: 0880105216
• ISBN 13: 978-0880105217

Book Condition:

• This book is brand new and is in perfect condition. 

"Mr. Goethe's Garden offers children and adults the beautiful opportunity to explore and reconnect with the rhythms of the Earth. To open this book is to reopen oneself, like the petals of a flower, to the wondrous connections of the world in which we live." - Julia Butterfly Hill, author of The Legacy of Luna, founder of Circle of Life"

Mr. Goethe's Garden walks the reader into the riches of nature. It will make you stop and look at nature, inspiring you to see, to garden, to draw, or even...to dance." - Paul Hawken, author of Natural Capitalism and The Ecology of Commerce

Why We Love It

This is one of those books that will be read over and over again. A true treasure to share with a child.