Gail Gibbons reveals to young readers how a seed begins, what pollination is, and how flowers, trees, fruits, and vegetables get to be the way they are.
July 1, 1991
K-Gr 2- A simple introduction to how plants reproduce, discussing pollination, seed dispersal, and growth from seed to plant. The section on pollination, covered in detail in the illustrations, is very clear. A simple project-how to grow a bean plant-is included. A final page gives odd and unusual facts. Unfortunately, the text is pedestrian and occasionally awkward. The boldly colored illustrations are casual, somewhat careless, and some plants are hard to recognize. Other books cover the same subject with more excitement in language and zest in visual design. Bean and Plant (Silver Burdett, 1986) by Back, Reason for a Flower (Putnam, 1983) by Heller, or Lauber's Seeds: Pop, Stick, Glide (Crown, 1981) are better titles. -Sharon Levin, University of Vermont, Burlington
January 1, 1991
The transformation of seeds into full plants, which then generate new seeds, is presented with elegance and simplicity. Each page is carefully structured. An appealing presentation of basic science.
(Copyright 1991 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)