Nestled on 12 lush acres of protected wetland, forest, and farmland just outside Seattle, Cedar River Montessori School is a nature-immersed, independent K-8 school that nurtures joyful curiosity, environmental stewardship, and personal, local, and global advocacy. Our students learn through hands-on experiences and deep engagement with the natural world-feeding animals, tending gardens, exploring creeks, and growing their sense of community and compassion.
Tortuga's Garden Feast is Cedar River Montessori's debut children's book-a heartfelt, stone-soup-inspired children's book that celebrates the school's beloved animals, vibrant garden spaces, and meaningful experiences such as feeding animals, tending gardens, and growing their sense of community and compassion. Written by our community and beautifully illustrated by Anna Grantham, this story is a collaborative work of love that features the creatures on our campus through whimsical storytelling and artistic wonder.
At the heart of the book is Stone Soup-our annual autumn community-celebration storybook event rooted in the cherished folktale about sharing and kindness. Each year, the entire school comes together to harvest from our gardens and prepare a collective soup, with every student contributing something special to the meal. It's a moment of gratitude and connection that beautifully captures the joy of growing and learning together through the years.
Tortuga's Garden Feast blends imagination with education, honoring the voices of our students as young authors, artists, and stewards of the land. With themes of sharing and kindness, farm life, and seasonal abundance, this school-garden story for kids is perfect for families, classrooms, and anyone who believes in the power of storytelling to plant seeds of curiosity and compassion.
Join Tortuga the turtle, Fern the alpaca, Matilda the sheep, and more animal friends in this gentle farm-animals friendship book as they prepare for a magical harvest feast. Perfect for readers who love animal-characters harvest stories and stories that celebrate nature, community, and joyful collaboration.
