Nina Soni, Master of the Garden
Synopsis:
“Lovable Indian-American girl Nina Soni returns in the third installment of this award-winning middle grade chapter book series from Own Voices author Kashmira Sheth.
It’s Take Your Child to Work Day, and Nina, Kavita, and Jay are all going to work with Mom, a landscape architect, to learn how to start a garden. Naturally that’s not enough for Nina, who quickly develops big plans for a business selling the vegetables she plans to grow. But her plans don’t include managing the problems that inevitably arise, including rabbits, slugs, mosquitos, and more!
Readers are sure to relate to Sheth’s endearing Nina Soni, her family and friends, and her slightly scatter-brained efforts to manage her life with lists, definitions, and real-life math problems. A great read for STEAM enthusiasts!”
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Review:
It can be so difficult to find the right books for kids! With thousands of books being published every year, it can be extremely overwhelming. Once your child has conquered the easy reader section and successfully migrated to chapter books, what happens next? To they move from a 100-page book filled with illustrations to a 300-page book without any? That’s where a book like Nina Soni comes in. The perfect stepping stone for 3rd – 5th grade readers who are ready for longer stories and fewer illustrations. The content is also perfect for this age group! Which makes suggesting it to families in a library setting really easy!
What I love about this book is that it’s diverse and yet it doesn’t have to scream it from the rooftops! The main character and her family are Indian American. There are references sprinkled throughout that I know the Indian families in my community will understand and appreciate. But, at the same time, it’s not about diversity. Which are just the types of books I love. Families being families, friends being friends, diversity is seamlessly integrated throughout without feeling forced.
This is actually the third in a series, which I didn’t realize when I first started reading it. And honestly, the author does a great job of pulling you right into the story, I didn’t even realize I was reading the third book. Kids with younger siblings will be able to commiserate with Nina. Kids who are passionate about projects will understand Nina’s frustrations. And kids who have experience trouble with friends will cheer on Nina and Jay’s friendship.
Verdict:
Nina Soni, Master of the Garden is a perfect stepping stone for kids reaching the middle grade level. With great characters to root for, inspirational project ideas you can do at home, this book is a great suggestion! This story would also be a great read aloud for a family looking for something accessible to a wider range of kids. And would be perfect this time of year, just in time to start your own garden patch in the backyard or on a patio!
If you’re interested in purchasing Nina Soni, Master of the Garden by Kashmira Sheth and Jenn Kocsmiersky, please use my affiliate links for Bookshop.org or Amazon.com. When you purchase from either of these links, I will earn a commission as an affiliate.
Need to Know:
Title: Nina Soni, Master of the Garden
Author: Kashmira Sheth
Illustrator: Jenn Kocsmiersky
Publisher: Peachtree Publishing
Publication Date: April 1, 2021
Page Number: 192 pgs.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
