Questions from the garden
Frequently asked questions
Everything a grown-up tends to wonder about our books, videos, and shipping. Still stuck? We'd love to hear from you.
What age are Cottage Creek Garden books for?
Our picture books are written for ages 3 to 8, read-aloud first. The stories use short sentences, concrete sensory words, and a gentle rhythm, with a few sight words gently bolded to help early readers follow along. They work beautifully as bedtime stories for toddlers and as first independent reads for kindergarteners.
Who writes the books?
The books are written by Zinnia Creek, the warm storybook voice on every page. The stories follow Mari, Theo, and their friends in the same cozy Tennessee cottage garden, grown from a real one. On our YouTube read-alongs, a grown-up Mari reads each story aloud, looking back on her childhood in the garden.
What formats can I get?
Each title comes as a paperback and a Kindle ebook on Amazon, and you can buy the paperback direct from us. You can also watch and hear the full story for free on our YouTube channel, where Mari reads each book aloud (our "read-alongs").
Can I get a signed or personalized copy?
Yes. Books you buy direct from us come signed by hand, and you can ask us to personalize one at checkout with the name of the child it is for. We pack each order by hand from our Tennessee garden and tuck a thank-you card in with the book. Buying direct also supports us the most.
How do shipping and returns work?
Shipping is free within the United States. Every order is signed and packed by hand here in Tennessee, so please allow about two weeks for your books to arrive. All sales are final, but we will always make it right if something is wrong. If your order arrives damaged, gets lost, or the wrong book turns up, email us within 14 days and we will send a replacement.
Are the read-along videos safe for kids?
Yes. Our YouTube channel is set as Made for Kids, so videos play without personalized ads and with comments turned off. The read-alongs are calm, narrated by Mari, with no jeopardy and nothing scary, made for the read-aloud-before-bed part of the day.
How do I talk to my child about belonging or making mistakes?
That is exactly what these stories are for. The lesson arrives sideways, never announced. Moss Finds His Spot opens a gentle conversation about belonging and finding where you fit; Theo Waters the Weeds is about mistakes and what grows from them. Several titles include a "Note for Grown-Ups" with talk-about-it-together questions you can use after the story.
Do you have a free book?
Yes. Join our family mailing list and we will send you the full ebook of Moss Finds His Spot, straight to your Kindle or reading app, plus one quiet note a month from the garden. No noise, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Do you have printables?
Yes. Quiet pages to use after the stories, sold as an instant download. The first pack is Seeds We Save, a late-summer companion to Mari Saves the Seeds. It does not replace the book, and it does not reprint the how-to or coloring pages already inside the book. The download is a zip: a print PDF, a fillable tablet PDF, and PNG pages. All digital sales are final. If the file fails to arrive, email us and we will resend it.
If I buy the book and the pack together, when do I get each one?
Your pack downloads on the next page after you pay. The signed book ships in about two weeks. If you close that page, email hello@cottagecreekgarden.com and we will send a fresh download link.
Where is the best place to buy?
Buying direct from us is the nicest way to do it. It supports our family directly, and it lets us sign your copy and tuck a thank-you card in with it. Amazon is great too (leading with the paperback) and helps other families discover the books through reviews. Our paperbacks are also arriving at BarnesandNoble.com and Walmart.com, starting with Moss Finds His Spot and Theo Waters the Weeds, with the rest of the garden on the way.
Have a question we didn't answer? Get in touch. We read everything.