The Trellis and the Seed »

If you have ever wanted to settle down in an idyllic small town and live a life focused on faith and family, Jan Karon's books are for you. Her Mitford series follows a rural town, its inhabitants and its rector with humor, sentiment and a foundation of Christian values that help characters overcome setbacks.

The little seed spent the winter in a jelly glass on the top shelf of a chinacupboard. It was only a seed and very, very small. How could it ever be a vine with sweet-smelling blossoms? When spring came, the Nice Lady made a hole for the seed and planted it in her garden at the base of a trellis. It felt soft in the hole, but also cold and dark. Don't worry, said the Earth. God has planned something beautiful for you. The little seed did not believe it. But as time passed, and the sun shone, and the rain fell, the little seed began to feel something unexpected. . . .

Author Biography: Jan Karon is the author of the bestselling Mitford Years series, as well as two popular children's books: Jeremy: The Tale of an Honest Bunny, a New York Times bestseller, and Miss Fannie's Hat. She lives in Virginia. Robert Gantt Steele is a prolific painter of book jackets, theater posters, and fine art. His picture books include Dad and Me in the Morning by Patricia Lakin. He lives in California.

Chris Gill - Children's Literature

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.