This Is the Sunflower: A Magical Picture Book About Sunflower Growth for Children

by Lola M. Schaefer, Lola M. Schaefer

First there is a sunflower. Seasons pass ... and soon there is a patch of sunflowers. Budding young gardeners will discover that what makes this happen is not magic - but is most definitely magical.

Genres: Picture Books, Plants, Childrens, Gardening, Birds, Nature, Juvenile

24 pages, Hardcover

Published April 5, 2000

About the author

Lola M. Schaefer is an educator, writer, and gardener, and the author of many acclaimed books for children about math, art, science, technology, animals, and nature. She uses shovels, hoes, rakes, and scissors when she works in her garden. Lola M. Shaefer grew up in Indiana, and now lives in northern Georgia.

Reviews

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful little book that is directed for children but also for those who may enjoy the beauty of a sunflower as well as what it may take to get it to grow. The story is a quick read and one that although full of information follows along to the tune of "The House That Jack Built".

Although unrealistic in just following the life of a single plant since most sunflowers grow in groups the reader is given a chance to see the life cycle of that single plant. And slowly without the careful reader the plant slowly passes from the flower bright and yellow to one that is dying at the end of its life even as the birds enjoy its kernels.

The illustrations are bright and delightful while if you are trying to read with a younger child you can point out parts of the illustration to have them join you in the reading such as I did with my niece. Then again the littlest ones may just enjoy the colors, the birds and the flowers without noticing the beautiful details such as page where the birds are given in an abstract illustration.

And for those interested in learning more there is a page at the end of the book that gives identity to North American birds who enjoy the seeds as well as more facts about the sunflower itself. All in all an enjoyable read and one that would make for a great read, especially to those into gardening or learning about state flowers.

[Ambree · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will be a great book to use as apart of a Science unit. The repetition in this book is also great for literacy development for emergent readers.

[Makenzie Soeken · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is informational, but delivers the information in a more interesting way than simply stating facts, like many informational books tend to do. Rather, this book tells the story of the sunflower; from growing big and tall, to the seeds being spread by birds and replanted into the ground. This book also includes an extra "sunflower facts" section at the end, where it explains in more detail the life cycle of a sunflower.

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I requested a bunch of Crews family books so I can find some more gems and this one was my favorite from Donald. This is the Sunflower is about the life of a sunflower and is in Donald Crews' signature simple, but dynamic illustrations. I'd love to pair this with Carle's Hungry Caterpillar and or Voake's Tweedle Dee Dee for a spring-theme storytime.

[Allison Ster · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives a very short and almost underrated synopsis of the life of a sunflower. From the name of the book I figured it would lots of wonderful facts about sunflowers, but it just shows how birds eat the sunflower seeds which let more sunflowers grown around it.

[Tyler Replogle · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This was a cool”

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a rhyming book that builds on itself in a 'house that Jack built' kind of way.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun book to read with rhyming text!

[Little Champs]

2902

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read at Baby/Toddler Story Time on 4/12/11: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

Read at Baby/Toddler Story Time on 7/31/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

Read at Drop-In Story Time on 6/21/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

Read at preschool story time at the Redland Baptist Church on 5/10/17: https://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com...

[Jill Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explains the life of a sunflower and how one comes to be about from the seed. It goes through how seeds are moved around the earth by birds and then need soil, water, and sun to grow. They then turn into sprouts and continue to grow until they are fully bloomed flowers. This book tells this story in a poem form with tons of rhyming, i.e.
"These are the seeds, black and brown, found in the blossom, yellow and round, that crowns the sunflower, tall and bright, that stands in my garden day and night."

[Rebecca Snodgrass · Rating 5 out of 5]

The facts at the end of this book are neat because I was not expecting them to be there. The poem in this book is very catchy that I ended up being able to say it by the end so it would be fun for a young kid to hear this during a poem unit. The rhyming was something I liked a lot as well. Overall, a good book.

[Natalie Heavrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short poetry book is simple and sweet. Every page, a new line is added to the beginning, while the rest stays the same and repeats. It shows the process of how a sunflower grows with beautiful watercolor illustrations and flowing rhymes. I especially like it because sunflowers are my favorite flower!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rhyme and cumulative text really move the book along and make it easy for the kids to begin to say some of the words and phrases along with you. I found that stopping to ask questions throughout about the illustrations or about flowers and gardens was engaging for the kids and did not make for stilted rhyme, as it all starts over again on each page.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A house-that-jack-built type story about sunflowers and the birds who eat the seeds. Biological info re: sunflowers and pictures of the types of birds seen in the book are is included at the back of the book.

[Rebekah Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sunflower is a colorful book that shoes the life a flower. It gives a detailed description of what all happens to the seeds and how it grows. I liked the style of the book it made it interesting to read.

[Xiyuan Ni · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book has a bright cover, and it will bring you a good mood. We can figure out what happened in the garden about the sunflower, from only one to a patch of sunflowers. It is also a good potery book that you read again and again.

[Alex Wulfekuhle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great picture book! This book explains the life of the sunflower, and how it comes to be from seeds, sun, and growth. This would be a awesome science unit book. There is also a lot of repetition in this book that would be great for literacy development.

[Kristie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Add and repeat story.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about a sunflower, with a rhyming narrative that builds upon itself. Our girls enjoyed it, but the younger ones lose interest pretty quickly.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice cumulative story that worked well with my toddler story time group today...

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good informational book. Would be good for older children doing projects. Would also be a good group read for a sunflower unit. It reminds me of the sunflower unit my class did in second grade.

[Rachel Feather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Repetition, rhyming, concept vocabulary

[MJ]

not in print would like for odc if comes back in

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated book about a sunflower's life cycle. The repetition did get on my nerves a bit, but my little one loved it. Great science lesson.

[Elle Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful artwork

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has beautiful illustrations and the cycle of the rhyme is so well done.