Books, Education, Homeschool, Nature, Science/Math

Perfect Picture Book Friday: FROM SEED TO PLANT

Kirsten W. Larson

Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Fridays are back. I missed the boat last week, but I wrote my post early this week so I wouldn’t forget.

TITLE: From Seed to Plant

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Gail Gibbons

PUBLICATION INFO: Holiday House, 1991

ISBN: 978-0823410255

SOURCE:  library

INTENDED AUDIENCE: ages 5 and up

GENRE: nonfiction

OPENING and SYNOPSIS:

“Most plants make seeds. A seed contains the beginning of a new plant.”

Gibbons moves through a plant’s life cycle, showing children how seeds are formed through pollination, how they are dispersed, and how they grow into new plants.

THEMES/TOPICS: nonfiction, educational, nature, science

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK: Cooper was working on a plant life cycle project for school this week, and we checked this book out from the library. Gail Gibbons is a nonfiction favorite in our house. She uses beautiful drawings and simple writing to explain science concepts in a way young children can understand.

RESOURCES/ACTIVITIES:

  • The book has a “Seed to Plant” activity in the back using bean seeds. It’s a different take on the classic bean sprout in a baggie activity used in many preschool classrooms.
  • We’ve also done seed collections before to spark discussion about the different types of seeds and how they are scattered. You’ll find that activity…here.
  • Finally, for older students, you can try the plant life cycle project that Cooper’s class did. Students had to collect five different types of seeds and draw or collect pictures that showed the seedling, mature plant, flower and fruit. They had to label each stage, and I had Cooper draw arrows so he could see that the whole cycle is a circle. I’ll blog about our project next week.

Every Friday bloggers review “Perfect Picture Books.” Find a complete list of book reviews organized by topic, genre and blogger at author Susanna Leonard Hill’s site.

Published by Kirsten W. Larson

Kirsten W. Larson used to work with rocket scientists at NASA. Now she writes picture books and graphic novels for curious kids -- and grown ups too. She's the author of the craft book, REIMAGINING YOUR NONFICTION PICTURE BOOK: A step-by-step revision guide (Both/And) and the picture books, WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane, illustrated by Tracy Subisak (Calkins Creek, 2020), A TRUE WONDER: The Comic Book Her Who Changed Everything, illustrated by Katy Wu (Clarion, 2021); and the Orbis Pictus honor winning THE FIRE OF STARS: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars are Made of, illustrated by Katherine Roy (Chronicle, 2023). Her forthcoming books include THIS IS HOW YOU KNOW, illustrated by Cornelia Li (Little, Brown, 2025) and THE LIGHT OF RESISTANCE, illustrated by Barbara McClintock (Roaring Brook, 2025). Find her at kirstenwlarson.com or on Twitter/Instagram @KirstenWLarson.

24 thoughts on “Perfect Picture Book Friday: FROM SEED TO PLANT”

  2. My kids loved Gail Gibbons books, too, even though they’re more straight nonfiction than narrative arc with a twist. It’s nice to see the oldies but goodies still in circulation!

    Reply

    1. The thing that I find really funny is how many kids really love straight nonfiction. When I did 1st/2nd grade library last week, almost everybody picked straight nonfiction, either encyclopedic or just straight informational text like the ed publishers put out. I love a narrative arc with a twist, but I honestly don’t think most kids care.

      Reply

  10. I love stories about seeds and gardens and was fascinated by them as a child. We had flower and vegetable gardnes — and I always ate raw vegetables in the garden. I know I would have loved a book like this. The illustrations look lovely.

    Reply

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