A Packet Full of Seeds by Deborah Hopkinson is told from the perspective of a young pioneer girl who leaves her with her family to start a new life out West. The author was inspired to write this story after reading many accounts of the pioneer woman and an article by Erica Calkins, an expert on pioneer women. The story is centered around the oldest daughter's concern for her mother's depression, possibly due to being homesick and possibly postpartum depression. Although this is a very simple story, the illustrator, Bethanne Anderson, is the true author of this story. Bethanne does a spectacular job of conveying the mother's emotions and her daughter's concerns realistically, and in doing so, helps the reader understand how aware the daughter is of her mother's deteriorating condition. ( )

This book depicts the life pioneers went through when moving to the west. A family leaves behind everything for a better opportunity, The moving put a toll on the family especially the mother. The children make a plan to make her a garden to remind her of back home. She pants her garden and she feels like she has a little piece from home. ( )

This is the story of a wife and kids who followed their husband/ dad and his dreams to live out the pioneer life. Leaving their home, family and friends, the wife had the most trouble adapting to her new life. Back home, the author said that the mother would often garden and plant flowers. The children decided to make a garden to try and cheer the mother up. In the process of moving, the mothers sister gave her a packet of seeds to remember home. When the children were done making the garden the mother planted the seeds and now she has something to remind her of home and family. ( )

Genre: Historical fiction
Audience: 3-5th grade
The story A Packet of Seeds, is about the Oregon Trail that led westward which many men and women traveled on. This story is about Annie, a little girl who travels westward with her family leaving behind her home. Annie's mom is home sick and misses her old life and her family and the only way she is happy is after Annie and her brother plant a garden for her with the seeds that she brought from her home. The theme of this story is, “Friends and flowers are a lot alike. No matter how bad your troubles, they gladden your heart.” Even though one may not have their friends and family with them all the time they can plant flowers and plants to remind them of home. I definitely use this in Social Studies to discuss the Oregon Trail and the contributions of women. ( )

This fictional story is about a pioneer family traveling west across the frontier. When they arrive to their new home, Momma is homesick and missing her friends and family. Young Annie and Jim know they must do something to make Momma get out of bed and feel better-- planting a garden is just what she needs. ( )