The Magic of Children's Gardens

"The Magic of Children’s Gardens is an unparalleled resource for anyone—whether landscape designer, horticulturist, educator, or community leader—who seeks a better understanding of how the design of contemporary children’s gardens has evolved to most effectively spark the interest and imagination of today’s kids. Lolly Tai has compiled detailed profiles of exemplary gardens across America, each including design intents, plant lists, technical details, and inspirational photos and plans. Those charged with envisioning, maintaining, or enhancing children’s gardens need to have this comprehensive work on their bookshelves."
—Tom Underwood, Executive Director of the American Horticultural Society

"The Magic of Children’s Gardens is a great resource for landscape architects and designers. Lolly Tai’s case studies feature a robust series of children’s gardens created by recognized designers. Each case study includes a plethora of plans, sketches, photographs, and plant lists—everything a designer could want for inspiration and guidance. In the past, this information was available only to the lucky few who had the resources to travel the United States, tour sites, and meet owners and designers in person. Tai brings the whole measure to us in a single must-have book."
—Lisa Horne, Co-chair of the Outdoor Children's Environments Professional Practice Network, professional landscape architect, and member of the American Society of Landscape Architects

"The Magic of Children’s Gardens is a superb resource and reference tool for anyone interested in children’s outdoor environments—from design professionals to public garden specialists, urban planners, educators, and students of design. The detailed garden descriptions, plans, and plant lists provide a template for the development of future children’s gardens around the world that may well serve to inspire the next generation of horticulturists, scientists, and artists."
—Paul B. Redman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Longwood Gardens

"Tai features 19 U.S. public gardens devoted to children's entertainment and education. Each is showcased with plant lists, landscape sketches, architectural drawings, and color photographs.... VERDICT Educators, landscape professionals, and community groups would benefit from understanding the vital considerations necessary to create inviting garden-themed play parks for kids. Recommended."
—Library Journal

"(Tai) breaks down each garden's goal, concept, and design, providing plant lists and showing sketches and photographs of completed projects around the United States. Beauty and educational value are given their due... but for kids, whimsy always wins."
—Landscape Architecture Magazine

"A copiously illustrated survey of enchantments that can be made real—through commitment and savvy design—in public parks."
—Harvard Magazine

"(Tai's) assembly of 697 drawings, sketches and photographs of successful child-oriented outdoor environments depict the best practices for successful designs.... In addition to a keen close-up look at the 19 featured locations, a helpful, detailed resource guide to other multi-state youth-oriented gardens concludes Tai's book.... Parents on the lookout for uniquely special places to visit with their children will especially appreciate The Magic of Children's Gardens ."
—SEEDS, Texas Gardener Magazine's newsletter

"The strength of The Magic of Children’s Gardens is in its detailed and colorful pictures of nineteen children’s gardens in the US and its attempt to encourage the creation of similar gardens in other places."
—International Journal of Environmental Studies

"Lolly Tai provides detailed examples of noteworthy children's gardens in North America. These include ones at Brooklyn Botanic Garden in New York and Chicago Botanic Garden in Illinois, designed to encourage learning and play through the stimulation of all five senses. Packed with photographs, illustrations, and suggested criteria, this book explores designs that foster children's interactions with plants and the outdoors to nurture their affinity for nature."
—The American Gardener