Corn Is Maize: The Gift of the Indians: An Illustrated Educational Picture Book About How Native Farmers Shared This Plant for Kids (Ages 4-8)

Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2

by Aliki

Read and find out about corn in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book. With simple prose and beautiful illustrations, award-winning author-illustrator Aliki tells the story of how Native American farmers thousands of years ago found and nourished a wild grass plant and made corn an important part of their lives. They learned the best ways to grow and store and use its fat yellow kernels. And then they shared this knowledge with the new settlers of America. Maize has been an important crop from its beginning as a simple grass plant to its hybridization with teosinte to new protein-rich kinds. Used by both Indians and Pilgrims as food, maize is now also used in medicines, soaps, glues, powders, and other products. Popcorn, corn on the cob, cornbread, tacos, tamales, and tortillas—all of these and many other good things come from one amazing corn! "An engaging description of how corn was found by Indian farmers thousands of years ago and how corn is grown and used today. A successful blend of social studies, science, and history augmented by accurate diagrams and cheerful illustrations."  (School Library Journal) This clear and appealing science book for early elementary age kids, both at home and in the classroom, is a Level 2 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores more challenging concepts for children in the primary grades. The 100+ titles in this leading nonfiction series Top 10 reasons to love Books in this series support the Common Core Learning Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) standards. Let's-Read-and-Find-Out is the winner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Science Books & Films Prize for Outstanding Science Series.

Genres: Picture Books, Science, Childrens, Native American, Nonfiction, History, Thanksgiving

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Aliki has written and illustrated many books, both fiction and nonfiction, loved by readers throughout the world. The books were inspired by a word, an experience, or the desire to find out. Aliki lives in London, England.

Reviews

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an interesting book to read and one that explores into the concept of maize, its possible history and the usages that it has. Due to its age there is room for the book to most definitely be updated and provided with newer information if it were to be ever republished. More than likely it won't be so in that case if you choose to read the book then you do need to be aware that the book may not be the most politically correct or user-friendly if you would like to deem it that.

Unfortunately for the book to be considered a children's book I wouldn't recommend it for very young readers but instead for those who are in the higher grades of elementary school and even then with possible help still from adults. The book can be very scientific in some faces even without all the scientific words while at other times the reading is quite simple although a bit dull.

The book does keep with illustrations whether it is depicting the history of the plant or as diagrams or comparisons of different types of corn and maize. Unlike more modern books the color range is basic with pages working between a small color range to black-and-white. Although most of the illustrations are definitely focused on the subject there is one page that had a bit of a comic picture since it had to capture the old gray goose, which has no place in the actual telling of the story.

To be honest with this book I don't know if I would truly recommend it to any other readers without looking for another child-friendly book about the same subject first.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the greatest illustrations, but a wealth of information.

[Kate Foran · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book hasn’t aged well. In some ways it’s so great — the science explanations are fascinating and clear, it focuses on indigenous peoples and shows that they continue to exist and cultivate corn today.

BUT - none of the indigenous peoples are named, they’re just “Indians” or “Mexican Indians.” The only named historical figure is Christopher Columbus. Columbus is treated as the turning point of everything.

Ugh.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction to corn, how it is grown and its uses. Touches on history of corn as well.

[Jacelyn Neuleib]

"Corn is Maze" is both a multicultural and an informational book. The book shares the cultures of several tribes of North America and how they planted, harvested, and used corn differently. The book shows how corn is planted from a seed, how it grows, and has diagrams showing each important piece of the corn stalk and explaining what the parts do to allow the corn to grow into food. Next, the book tells about the farmers role and everything that he does to harvest the corn and how he saves some seeds for the next season. Next, the book begins to compare and contrast how differently some tribes have planted their corn in the past. Some groups like to plant just one kind, and others like to plant multiple kinds "on one hill." The book then tells the mythical story about how corn came to North America after being found in a cave in South America.

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Corn is Maize- The Gift of Indians- Let’s read and find out Science- Stage 2- Written and Illustrated by Aliki- Hindi language translation by Vidushak- Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The book narrates the story of maize farming. History of maize farming, its usages has been shown in coloured illustrations. The book can be taught to higher than Stage 2 classes. The book does keep with illustrations whether it is depicting the history of the plant or as diagrams or comparisons of different types of corn and maize. I have read the Hindi language translation of this book.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book gives a lot of information on corn (getting a bit lengthy) while keeping all of the information at an age-appropriate level with vocabulary and concepts. I thought it was really well done. I also enjoyed how the illustrations often reflected art styles of the relevant time periods.

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very dated. This actually has some really good science basics about corn, but then it turns into the story of the tribes that grew corn. This could also be interesting, but instead, it is not specific about distinguishing between tribes - they are all just "Indians".

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Corn gods!

[Sherry Scheline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice book. I learned so much about corn. 🌽

[Laurie Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book about the importance of corn to the native Americans. We used this in our homeschool history class.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations were nice
and attractive and appropriate.

They were actually quite beautiful
in a way.

A good introduction to American corn.

Although I think this book was
targeted for 10 year olds, for any
adult who was interested in this
subject it would make a good intro-
duction.

[Kris Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Corn is Maize: The Gift of the Indians was written and illustrated by Aliki. This science non-fiction picturebook is intended to be read by the primary age group. No awards were issued. I rated this book as a four.

Corn is Maize: The Gift of the Indians is about how corn was discovered by Indians and it’s multiple uses in our diet. The book explains the growth process from a corn kernel to a full grown corn stalk. The author also includes the scientific process of how each corn stalk has female parts, the corn silk, and the male parts, the tassels, and how these parts work together with pollen to create an ear of corn. In addition, the book explores different possibilities of where corn derived. Finally, the multiple ways corn was used by the Indians is listed along with its importance to the community and incoming English settlers. The setting is outdoors in gardens and fields. The characters are Indians. The theme is the history of corn. The language is written for the primary age group, or early elementary children.

The front cover design is a young Indian child eating corn on the cob. There is a corn stalk on each side of him. The title is placed at the top of the cover in a large black font. The illustration is drawn in a simple manner like a middle school child completed the picture. The title page is white and simple with a group of maize corn tied together. The full title page has popcorn, corn on the cob, and cornmeal pictured in yellow, green, and gray color hues. The illustrations are framed to almost consume the whole page. A lot of white space is used. The text is black, normal size font. Some illustrations are black and white, while others are completed in green, yellow, and gray hues. After you complete the book, the last page includes a note about the author, Aliki, and directions on how to make a corn husk wreath.

Overall, Corn is Maize: The Gift of the Indians is a good scientific non-fiction picturebook for early elementary school aged children to learn the importance of corn and how it benefits the community and diet. In addition, children will gain an insight into how corn grows and how ears are formed on the corn stalks. The book is easy to read. The illustrations accent the words in order to capture the child’s attention of what is being read. This read and find out science book could be used by a science teacher during the Thanksgiving season. A homework assignment would be to prepare a corn dish for your family dinner and write about the experience. Visiting a corn farmer would be an excellent field trip.

[Elizabeth]

Corn is Maize describes the way corn is grown today and the ways in which corn has been grown in America for thousands of years. Originally written in 1976, Aliki's book remains an excellent resource for elementary school readers.

Opening with a modern farmer, Aliki includes inset illustrations that bring more detail and allows the reader to learn more, if they wish. The text includes information on the way archeologists figured out how corn was domesticated, the various ways in which the Natives grew and used corn, and even how that information was shared with the Pilgrims.

Aliki is the award winning author of many, many children's books. This book falls into line with her previous work, combining attention to detail in the illustrations with excellent informative text.

This book is perfect for the second grade seed growing unit many schools undertake, especially as it shows the various ways in which corn was planted (with a bean stalk, over a fish, in a mound with 2 to 5 seeds). Those pages are perfect for introducing the idea of testing several items at once and discussing experimentation. Excerpts from this book would also be useful for Thanksgiving units.

This book is recommended for schools and public libraries serving the primary grades.

[Deanna Sutter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am finding that I really like the books by Aliki. I've been checking out all the books by her that I can from the library. Her books are old so the pictures are all in three or so basic colors and older drawings. However, we are still finding her books engaging and that we like the information.

In this book not only do you learn about corn from a science prospective but there is also a lot of history included.

[Kelley Mcalhany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for younger students as an introduction to Native Americans and how they use to live and how they live now. It relates how Native American's affected us because they showed the settlers how to store corn.

[Jenny Hartfelder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book paired nicely with The Tortilla Factory as an introduction to the history of corn and its many uses in modern life. We read it while studying South America, but it could also go with Mexico.

#passportaroundtheworld #southamerica

[Mekia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows students how corn came about from the Indians. The children can also see that different kinds of food such as popcorn, tortilla chips, taco shells, etc. comes from corn itself.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book used for children with special needs to learn about Native Americans.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

a book of the story, history and science that created corn the main staple of the american continents

[CFAITC]

The story of how ancient Indian farmers discover a wild grass plant, use it in their lives, and eventually share it with the new settlers of America.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this would be pretty basic book to read to my 6 and 3 year old. I found it very interesting! Learned a few new things about corn ;)

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique history of the corn plant in the Americas written for young children.

[Elanor]

All by herself!

[Carol Krueger · Rating 3 out of 5]

read while exploring the Carnegie Museum of Natural History

[Trey Veazey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read an old edition of this book so I hope that it has been edited to be a bit more culturally sensitive since its publication in 1976.