Joanna Gaines to release first children’s book in March

In We Are the Gardeners, Joanna and the kids chronicle the adventures of starting their own family garden

Nashville, Tenn. (Jan. 14, 2019) Magnolia co-founder and New York Times bestselling author Joanna Gaines will publish her first children’s book, We Are the Gardeners, on March 26, 2019 with Tommy Nelson, the children’s division of Thomas Nelson, the company announced today.

In We Are the Gardeners, Joanna and her kids chronicle the adventures of starting their own family garden. From their failed endeavors, obstacles to overcome (like bunnies that eat everything!), and all the knowledge they’ve gained along the way, the Gaines family shares how they learned to grow a happy, successful garden.

“The garden has always been a place that inspires me. There’s something about digging deep into fresh soil or watching new life burst from what was not long ago just a tiny seed that reinforces what a gift life is,” said Joanna. “I think that’s part of why my kids have come to love spending time in the garden just as much as I do. It can be a great teacher, if we pause long enough to notice all there is to learn. Where every day can be a lesson in hard work, and sometimes even in failure, but where there’s also growth worth celebrating. This book is our way of sharing what the garden means to us, and the many adventures we’ve had along the way!”

Children and their families will be able to start their own gardens, learn how to take care of plants, and enjoy the fruits of their labors together. As it turns out, trying something new isn’t always easy, but the hardest work often yields the greatest reward—there are always new lessons waiting to be learned in the garden!

“Joanna’s creativity has resulted in a gorgeous and splendid book,” said Laura Minchew, senior vice president and publisher of Tommy Nelson Children’s Books, gift books and new media at Thomas Nelson. “Families will delight in reading the story together, and create happy memories by starting their own gardens. What fun for children discover their green thumbs as a result of reading We Are the Gardeners!”

Julianna Swaney’s illustrations bring the Gaines family garden to life with colorful, whimsical watercolors in We Are the Gardeners, inviting readers to enjoy the beauty a thriving garden provides.

This will be the Gaines family’s fifth book with HarperCollins Publishers. Their previous books include The Magnolia Story (Thomas Nelson), Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff (Thomas Nelson); Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering (William Morrow Cookbooks); and Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave (Harper Design).