Book Look 2

Back on May 25, 2023, my blog post was entitled Book Look and featured some of my favorite children’s books from my years in teaching first grade. As I mentioned, I used picture books in my classroom to help students grasp and recall concepts relating to science, social studies, garden-based literature, etc. This was especially effective for those whose learning style is visual.  

And sometimes, books are just for fun. 

In no particular order, here’s my list for Book Look 2: 

SeedsA Fruit is a Suitcase for Seeds

By Jean Richards. Illustrated by Anca Harito. 

Why is a tomato a fruit? This book explains exactly what a fruit is. 

The Sun, the Wind and the Rain 

By Lisa Westberg Peters. Illustrated by Ted Rand. 

A young girl plays on the beach and her activities reflect the weathering  of a nearby mountain in Earth time. The title tells the tale of Earth’s geologic processes with text by Ted Rand and art by Lisa Westberg Peters. Another important book that explains the origin of soil. Fun fact: soil is 45% rock material. Another great book by this dynamic duo is Water’s Way. 

Diary of a Worm

By Doreen Cronin. Illustrated by Harry Bliss. 

This book is a fun way to learn about worms and might even encourage children to keep a diary or a journal. The jokes are subtle and numerous and the illustrations are humorous as well. I teach a lesson about worms, soils and decomposers and this book is fun way to learn to appreciate one of the hardworking soil invertebrates. 

Snowflake Bently 

By Jacqueline Briggs Martin. Illustrated by Mary Azarian. 

Not really a garden-themed book, but winter happens and this book will pique the interest of children and adults. Mary Azarian’s woodcuts make this book even more interesting. Enjoy some outdoor time looking at snowflakes, then come inside for some hot chocolate and a good book! 

The Great Kapok Tree 

Written and illustrated by Lynne Cherry 

A man is hired to cut down a tree in the rainforest, not realizing that different animals depend on that tree in many ways. I like to use different voices when reading the animals’ dialog. This is an important book and it contains additional information on rain forests. Lynne Cherry’s lush illustrations enhance the storytelling. 

Up, Down and Around 

by Katherine Ayres and Nadine Bernard Westcott 

This is a lighthearted rhyming story and is perfect for talking about fruits and vegetables and the way they grow. Add yoga-like stretching movements as you read for a little exercise. 

First Peas to the Table 

by Susan Grigsby and Nicole Tadgell 

Maya’s class will be planting a school garden using information from Thomas Jefferson’s garden journal. For children, I suggest planting snow peas as a starter crop. You may never harvest the peas because they will be eaten right from the vine! This book prompted me to read Thomas Jefferson’s journal. 

Many of these books can be found at used bookstores and also as a “read aloud” on line. 

More Resources 

Growing Good Kids – Excellence in Children’s Literature Book Awards Program 

The Junior Master Gardener Program and the American Horticultural Society honor engaging, inspiring works of plant, garden and ecology-themed children’s literature through the “Growing Good Kids – Excellence in Children’s Literature Awards” Program. 

The current winners are on the JMG website and the previous years are archived there as well.?www.jmgkids.us/bookawards/ 

Here are a couple more of my favorites: 

Growing Minds
http://growing-minds.org/childrens-literature/ 

The Collective School Garden Network
?http://www.csgn.org/garden-based-literature 

Agriculture in the Classroom
Agclassroom.org