Quick answer
Garden Treasures is a 36-page hardcover Hazel Village book written by founder Jane Van Cleef and illustrated by Jane Van Cleef and Sara Tanikawa. It stars Reginald Fox and features many Hazel Village animal friends, making it a strong read-aloud choice for ages 4-8 when you want a story that connects naturally to doll play.
Reginald Fox
What this book actually is
Garden Treasures is a hardcover picture book with a leafy green cloth spine and gold foil lettering. It runs 36 pages at 7.125 by 8.75 inches, a size that sits comfortably in an adult's hands for reading aloud and is still easy for a child to hold on their own. The story follows Reginald Fox through a spring day of tending the Hazel Village garden, appreciating its treasures, and sharing what he finds.
How to read it aloud with a doll in hand
The book works best when the doll is not a prop but a listening companion. Seat the doll beside you, open to the first spread, and let your child decide whether the doll is helping Reginald or watching from the garden path. Because the story moves through a single spring day, you can pause after each page and ask what the doll would notice: the hay grasses shifting, the river, the color of the far hills. That turns a read-aloud doll story into a conversation rather than a performance.
- Keep the doll's hands free so your child can point at illustrations without dropping it.
- If you pair the book with a doll, choose one whose size lets your child hold both together; a 13-inch doll is manageable for most 4- to 8-year-olds.
- Read the same page twice if your child asks. Repetition is where the garden details start to stick.
Pairing the book with a doll or a small accessory
A book for doll play does not need a large cast. One doll and one small accessory are enough to extend the story after you close the cover. A cross-body bag gives the doll somewhere to carry a pretend garden find, and it keeps the play focused on the same spring-day theme as the book. If you are choosing a first doll to go with Garden Treasures, pick one whose personality your child already gravitates toward rather than matching the book's main character exactly; the story leaves room for any animal friend to join in.
Decision rules for buying Garden Treasures
- Choose the book alone if your child already has a doll: Garden Treasures stands on its own as a read-aloud. If a doll is already in the house, the book adds a shared story without requiring a new character. Best value when the doll shelf is already full.
- Choose the book plus one doll if storytime needs a listener: A 13-inch doll like Jules gives your child something to hold while you read. The book's spring-day setting gives you a natural prompt to ask what the doll sees. Pick one doll, not a set, so the pair stays easy to carry.
- Add a small accessory only if the play needs a job: A cross-body bag gives the doll a reason to move through the story, carrying pretend garden finds. Skip it if your child prefers to sit and listen. One accessory is enough; more pieces compete for attention.
Product facts
- Garden Treasures Book: Written by Hazel Village founder Jane Van Cleef and illustrated by Jane Van Cleef and Sara Tanikawa, Garden Treasures stars Reginald Fox and features many Hazel Village animal friends. Hardcover with leafy green cloth spine and gold foil lettering, 36 pages, 7.125 by 8.75 inches, ideal for ages 4-8. The trim size and page count are suited to a single sitting, and the recurring animal friends give your child familiar faces to point out during read-alouds.
- Jules: Jules is 13 inches tall, suitable for all ages, and arrives swaddled in complimentary gift wrap. He is made from organic cotton and stuffed with hypoallergenic polyfill, with a hand-embroidered cotton thread face. A 13-inch doll is large enough to feel present during storytime but still light enough for a young child to hold while you read.
- Strawberry Bag for Dolls: The Strawberry Bag for Dolls is made from wool felt with hand-embroidered strawberry seeds. Its leafy lid fastens with a snap, and the cross-body strap is a twisted cotton cord in pink, yellow, and green tones. The snap closure keeps small pretend treasures from spilling during play, and the cross-body strap stays on a 13-inch doll without needing to be held.
Who this book fits
Best for
- Families reading aloud to children ages 4-8
- Children who already play with Hazel Village dolls and want a story that matches
- Gift-givers looking for a book-and-doll pairing that arrives gift-wrapped
Not for
- Independent readers younger than 4 who need simpler board-book pages
- Shoppers wanting a chapter book or a long narrative
- Anyone seeking a doll included in the book purchase; the book and doll are separate items
