About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is acting out or withdrawing because they are hiding a mistake they are afraid to admit. Harriet and the Garden speaks directly to the heavy, physical sensation of guilt that children experience when they know they have done something wrong but do not know how to fix it. After Harriet accidentally tramples her neighbor's prize-winning garden, she spends the day haunted by her secret, showing how internal shame can feel much worse than the eventual consequences of telling the truth. Nancy Carlson uses a gentle, relatable animal protagonist to normalize the fear of getting in trouble. This is an ideal choice for preschoolers and early elementary students (ages 4 to 8) who are beginning to navigate personal responsibility and social accountability. It helps parents model how to apologize and make amends, transforming a moment of failure into a lesson on integrity and the relief that comes with honesty.
