A gaggle of toddlers engages in playful hands-on learning in the garden. Conversational question-and-answer text gently encourages exploration as the toddlers plant peas in the soil and wait patiently for them to grow. Fortunately, there are plenty of other things to explore in the meantime. “How do you make mud? Dig a path for the water to go. Make a river. Flood it! Mix, mix, mix. Mmmmm! Mud!” The toddlers greet critters like the titular worm (“Gently, very gently”) and bees (“Look but don’t poke … Listen but don’t grab”) and build a stick structure to support the growing pea sprouts. (It doubles as a play hut.) When enough time has passed, the children learn how to recognize a ripe strawberry, how to pull a carrot, and how to pop open a peapod to reach the tasty peas inside. Two Afterwords—one “for kids” and one “for grown-ups”—provide additional guidance on how to garden with (or as) a toddler. Silkscreen illustrations show a racially diverse group of toddlers, including one who uses canes and wears leg braces.   (Ages 1-4)