Question: Why would you want a garden filled with ugly vegetables when you could have one filled with colorful poppies, peonies, and petunias instead? Answer: Ugly Vegetable Soup, of course!
The Ugly Vegetables
Discuss the Book
The Right Tools for the Job
Pages 1–7
- Important Moment: The characters plant their gardens with the help of shovels, wheelbarrows, hoses, and watering cans.
- Ask and Share: Which tools do the characters use to plant their gardens? Can you think of other tools that are used outside? What about indoors? Which tools have you had a chance to use? How did you use them?
Growing Gardens
Pages 8–15
- Important Moment: The neighbors grow flowers, but the girl and her mom grow Chinese vegetables. The girl feels that the other gardens are beautiful, but hers is ugly. Her mom says to wait and see why the vegetables are better than flowers.
- Ask and Share: How is the girl’s garden different from the others? What kinds of plants grow near your home or in your community? How do you think the girl might be feeling? What’s a kind thing you can say to her?
Hard Work
Pages 16–19
- Important Moment: When the character’s mom cuts the vegetables, she uses her muscles and exclaims “Aie-yow!” The vegetables are hard and tough!
- Ask and Share: Why is it hard work to cut the vegetables? Are there hard jobs you help with at home or in your classroom? What can you do if a job seems a little tough and you’re not sure you can do it?
A Time to Gather
Pages 20–31
- Important Moment: The girl’s mom makes delicious vegetable soup. The neighbors follow the scent to her house, and they all share flowers and soup. Next year, everyone plants both flowers and Chinese vegetables in their gardens.
- Ask and Share: How do the people in the story share? Is there a special meal or activity you share with others?