by Heidi Bee Roemer, illustrated by Olena Kassian
NorthWord, 2006. Ages 4-8.
Now is the season to throw off winter coats and run outside, enjoying the warm sunshine, fresh air, and green sprouts that greet the spring. And where do those green sprouts come from? A lot of them grow from seeds that traveled to their new homes in intriguing ways.
The ingenious picture book What Kinds of Seeds Are These? explores nine different methods of seed dispersal. In each case, a clever four-line verse describes one way seeds travel, then the reader is asked to name the seed.
Some of the seeds are familiar. Seeds squirrels busily bury in autumn and sometimes forget? Yes, acorns. Seeds children love to blow from their white-headed puffballs? Dandelions, of course.
Others are more surprising. Coconuts fall into the ocean and float to faraway shores, where they sprout new palm trees. Who knew that a tumbleweed scatters seeds of Russian thistle? Even seeds from animal droppings are acknowledged:
Birds, bats, and mice often gobble fruit up—but
fruit seeds may cruise through a critter's small gut.
fruit seeds may cruise through a critter's small gut.
The descriptions are not only interesting science but also charming poetry, viewing nature with fresh eyes. Whirly maple seeds are described as "angel-winged." Violet seeds grow in pods, like peas.
When the skin gets too tight, little seeds get a squeeze—
they pop from their pod like a miniature sneeze!
they pop from their pod like a miniature sneeze!
Rich full-page, full-color paintings show each plant, leaf, seed, and animal in loving detail. High quality printing and paper stock complete the classy package. What Kinds of Seeds Are These? is a fine book to give as a gift or treasure in a personal library.
This review was first published in the Bureau County (IL) Republican and is also posted at paulamorrow.com. Paula has been a children's literature specialist for more than a quarter century, first as a children's librarian, then as a longtime editor at Cricket Magazine Group and Cricket Books, and now as an independent editor, author, writing instructor, and sometimes publisher.
This post is part of The Carnival of Education posted at Joann Jacob's blog.
This post is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up posted at Abby (the) Librarian.
This book should be in every grade school classroom. I would have loved it when I taught my unit on plants in my third grade classroom! I'll have to revisit this book as my nine year old is planting for a school project!
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