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Food Books for Kids
GROW: How We Get Food from Our Garden
A black child and grandfather till, plant, water, and harvest produce in a colorful picture book garden. This tongue twister for children ages 4 – 7 (preschool – 2nd grade) includes online tips for starting your own garden.
Kids love to see things grow. Learn basic gardening and find the animals (revealed in online extras). 325 dyslexic-friendly words by award-winning author and media professor Karl Beckstrand (She Doesn’t Want the Worms: A Mystery), illustrated by Zanara.
How does your garden grow? Get number 3 in the Food Books for Kids series (stand alone; previous titles not needed). Other food books: Bad Bananas: A Story Cookbook for Kids, The Dancing Flamingos of Lake Chimichanga, Ma MacDonald Flees the Farm.
Kids love to see things grow. Learn basic gardening and find the animals (revealed in online extras). 325 dyslexic-friendly words by award-winning author and media professor Karl Beckstrand (She Doesn’t Want the Worms: A Mystery), illustrated by Zanara.
How does your garden grow? Get number 3 in the Food Books for Kids series (stand alone; previous titles not needed). Other food books: Bad Bananas: A Story Cookbook for Kids, The Dancing Flamingos of Lake Chimichanga, Ma MacDonald Flees the Farm.
- GenresFoodNonfictionChildrens
34 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2020
11 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Karl Beckstrand
66 books365 followersCollege media instructor Karl Beckstrand has lived abroad, interned for a Massachusetts publisher and for Congress in D.C. He earned a B.A. in journalism, an M.A. in international relations and conflict resolution, and a broadcast/film certificate. He’s been a technical recruiter in Silicon Valley, a Stanford Hospital chaplain, a Spanish interpreter for Angel Flight (aviator nonprofit), and a rock band front man. He is the best-selling and award-winning author/illustrator of 27 multicultural/multilingual books and more than 60 e-book titles. His western survival thriller, To Swallow the Earth, won a 2016 International Book Award, and his works have been lauded by Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, The Horn Book, and School Library Journal. Raised in Silicon Valley, he has worked with people from all continents (except Antarctica). His work reflects cultural diversity—not only in protagonists, but in collaborators (his illustrators hail from Latin America, Europe, and Asia). Since 2004, he has run Premio Publishing. Beckstrand has presented to Taiwan’s Global Leadership for Youth, city and state governments, festivals, and schools. His Y.A. stories, self-help, ebook mysteries, nonfiction, Spanish/bilingual, career, and STEM books feature ethnically diverse characters—and usually end with a twist. His work has appeared via: Amazon, Apple/iBooks, Baker & Taylor, Barnes & Noble, Costco, Deseret Book, Follett, Ingram, Kobo, Papercrafts Magazine, SCRIBD, Target.com, The U.S. Congressional Record, Walmart, and https://PremioBooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 6, 2020
Grow! How We Get Food from our Garden, by the renowned author Karl Beckstrand, is the third book in his Food Books for Kids series. The full-page colour illustrations of a young child and her grandfather tilling, planting, watering and harvesting produce in their own garden bring this work to life. The enthusiasm that the child has for their shared activity is catchy, so that the four- to seven-year-old children at whom the work is targeted are likely to come to enthuse about the contents of this book just as joyfully as the author seems to have delighted in writing it. Beckstrand, who is a media professor, certainly knows how to make his audience smile.
Not only does Grow! How We Get Food from our Garden teach youngsters how to grow their own little veggie patch, but it also introduces 325 words describing the gardening and farming activity on which the grandchild embarks, with her male carer. Professor Beckstrand uses basic rhyme and alliteration to add tunefulness to his text, giving the reader short and lilting stanzas such as “Till and turn / Hack and hoe / Plow and plant / Mulch and mow.” The innate rhythm of speech is, thus, effectively conveyed with ease and grace.
In addition to the poetry that pervades this work, Beckstrand also includes a snippet of information in prose, written in a lively and informative style that is aimed at encouraging the young child to share in the wonders of surrounding nature: “Did you know that spiders are bees are our friends? Spiders control pests that eat plants. Bees and butterflies pollinate plants so that they make new plants.” The ecological cycle is also explained in simple terms of consumer–provider, with, for instance, goats being shown to be useful for eating weeds.
The bright and clear illustrations are done by Zanara, a well-known freelance artist, designer, illustrator, and animator who has been creating designs, fine art, and illustrations for over two decades. She is clearly highly skilled in intertwining the text with the wording, resulting in a page that is extremely pleasing to the eye. With its ecologically and culturally aware text, and the careful blending of words and art, Grow! How We Get Food from our Garden is a work that every parent should consider acquiring for their young “sprouts.”
Not only does Grow! How We Get Food from our Garden teach youngsters how to grow their own little veggie patch, but it also introduces 325 words describing the gardening and farming activity on which the grandchild embarks, with her male carer. Professor Beckstrand uses basic rhyme and alliteration to add tunefulness to his text, giving the reader short and lilting stanzas such as “Till and turn / Hack and hoe / Plow and plant / Mulch and mow.” The innate rhythm of speech is, thus, effectively conveyed with ease and grace.
In addition to the poetry that pervades this work, Beckstrand also includes a snippet of information in prose, written in a lively and informative style that is aimed at encouraging the young child to share in the wonders of surrounding nature: “Did you know that spiders are bees are our friends? Spiders control pests that eat plants. Bees and butterflies pollinate plants so that they make new plants.” The ecological cycle is also explained in simple terms of consumer–provider, with, for instance, goats being shown to be useful for eating weeds.
The bright and clear illustrations are done by Zanara, a well-known freelance artist, designer, illustrator, and animator who has been creating designs, fine art, and illustrations for over two decades. She is clearly highly skilled in intertwining the text with the wording, resulting in a page that is extremely pleasing to the eye. With its ecologically and culturally aware text, and the careful blending of words and art, Grow! How We Get Food from our Garden is a work that every parent should consider acquiring for their young “sprouts.”
November 3, 2020
Strange Illustrations and Words with Little Storytelling Context
I love the idea of a book focusing on a grandparent and grandchild creating and nurturing a garden of fruits and vegetables together. However, this book was simply odd. First, I didn't think the illustrations of the people were that good. They looked more bizarre than realistic. The best part of the illustrations was the fruits and vegetables, and frankly, I wished there were more of them. The text, too, was strange. Rather than coherent sentences, the author wrote mostly in words, whether verbs to describe what might be going on in the garden at different points of the plant-growing cycle or nouns of different fruit, vegetable, and nut names. But they were given with little storytelling context. It felt like random words given because they were similar rather than they were telling a story of how we get food from home gardens. All in all, I was not wild about this book. I like the concept, but it needs to be better realized.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
I love the idea of a book focusing on a grandparent and grandchild creating and nurturing a garden of fruits and vegetables together. However, this book was simply odd. First, I didn't think the illustrations of the people were that good. They looked more bizarre than realistic. The best part of the illustrations was the fruits and vegetables, and frankly, I wished there were more of them. The text, too, was strange. Rather than coherent sentences, the author wrote mostly in words, whether verbs to describe what might be going on in the garden at different points of the plant-growing cycle or nouns of different fruit, vegetable, and nut names. But they were given with little storytelling context. It felt like random words given because they were similar rather than they were telling a story of how we get food from home gardens. All in all, I was not wild about this book. I like the concept, but it needs to be better realized.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
November 3, 2020
This charming picture book takes preschoolers and primary grade readers on an educational tour of life in the garden from planting the seeds through the harvest. Cleverly written in rhyme and peppered with alliteration, it provides a fun and challenging read aloud.
The book contains multicultural illustrations in brilliant colors. As a boy and his grandfather go on their rounds, readers learn about the seasons, weather, where plants come from, animals that interact with them, and how plants grow. I am betting the reader never imagined so many different varieties of plants.
I highly recommend the book. It is a delight to read and listen to and provides a wealth of information about gardening and farming.
The book contains multicultural illustrations in brilliant colors. As a boy and his grandfather go on their rounds, readers learn about the seasons, weather, where plants come from, animals that interact with them, and how plants grow. I am betting the reader never imagined so many different varieties of plants.
I highly recommend the book. It is a delight to read and listen to and provides a wealth of information about gardening and farming.
October 26, 2020
A book where children and students of English can learn most of the vegetables, fruits and herbs you can grow in a garden. I like these lines “Rocks in my pockets, Soil in my hair, Mud in my nails, Dirt everywhere.” Instead of Rock in my pockets, I would say Beans in my pockets. You can always find a bean in my pocket from September to November when I collect my beans.
Some of the pictures are childish but the vegetable ones are quite good.
I received a copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Some of the pictures are childish but the vegetable ones are quite good.
I received a copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 16, 2020
Great picture book for kids
Rocks in my pockets
Soil in my hair
Mud in my nails
Dirt everywhere
Love this descriptive, fun to say, fun to read picture book. Great information for kids that makes everyone want to get out andddd dig in the dirt!! Karl Beckstrand’s books are fantastic for reading and reciting with kids.
Rocks in my pockets
Soil in my hair
Mud in my nails
Dirt everywhere
Love this descriptive, fun to say, fun to read picture book. Great information for kids that makes everyone want to get out andddd dig in the dirt!! Karl Beckstrand’s books are fantastic for reading and reciting with kids.
January 25, 2021
"Grow! How We Get Food From Our Garden"
by Karl Beckstrand
This book was a delightful surprise. Based on the cover art and the pitch I was expecting a nice, informative how to on proper gardening technique for kids. You know the type, simple directions, maybe a diagram of a sprouting bean, talks about nutrition. Instead, I opened the book and fell into a poem stitched together from old Norman Rockwell counting books, calendars published by a seed company a century and a half ago, and a second grade reader from the mid 1970s'.
This is a book about joy, about living your life and taking the most pleasure you can out of the simple things you find. the art is more stylized than is common in modern picture books like this, harkening back several decades. There is something a little surreal about the root vegetables especially. Either they don't belong in our world, or more likely, we don't belong in theirs.
The writing is poetry that bleeds into, not prose, but the common work-a-day lists that we use to keep our lives together, and the disjointed connections we make when we are trying to do our chores as quickly as possible. It leaves its flavor in your mind.
As an adult it is hard to judge these children's' books sometimes. I do know that I would gladly read this book to my child.
Disclaimer. I recieved a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
by Karl Beckstrand
This book was a delightful surprise. Based on the cover art and the pitch I was expecting a nice, informative how to on proper gardening technique for kids. You know the type, simple directions, maybe a diagram of a sprouting bean, talks about nutrition. Instead, I opened the book and fell into a poem stitched together from old Norman Rockwell counting books, calendars published by a seed company a century and a half ago, and a second grade reader from the mid 1970s'.
This is a book about joy, about living your life and taking the most pleasure you can out of the simple things you find. the art is more stylized than is common in modern picture books like this, harkening back several decades. There is something a little surreal about the root vegetables especially. Either they don't belong in our world, or more likely, we don't belong in theirs.
The writing is poetry that bleeds into, not prose, but the common work-a-day lists that we use to keep our lives together, and the disjointed connections we make when we are trying to do our chores as quickly as possible. It leaves its flavor in your mind.
As an adult it is hard to judge these children's' books sometimes. I do know that I would gladly read this book to my child.
Disclaimer. I recieved a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 7, 2022
Educational fun story
What a educational story in GROW: How We Get Food from Our Garden by Karl Beckstrand. I am a big fan of this author! Whatever this author writes, I read. The story shows when different work happens on a farm or in a garden, and when and what comes from the garden. It also shows the things that are involved in keeping a garden, and how we get food. This book would be perfect to read to a child or have the child read it back. It's very educational, and even shows that spiders and bees are a big part of keeping a garden. Even animals have a part in the garden. I like that it shows what foods come from nature, and how to harvest and then eat them. It's fun to read, and very enjoyable. The illustrations are wonderful, and I like that it targets kids of all ages and cultures. From seeds and roots in the ground, to picking things off of trees, the work put into gardening and where our food comes from shows young readers, that they can even have a garden of their own. GROW: How We Get Food from Our Garden is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
What a educational story in GROW: How We Get Food from Our Garden by Karl Beckstrand. I am a big fan of this author! Whatever this author writes, I read. The story shows when different work happens on a farm or in a garden, and when and what comes from the garden. It also shows the things that are involved in keeping a garden, and how we get food. This book would be perfect to read to a child or have the child read it back. It's very educational, and even shows that spiders and bees are a big part of keeping a garden. Even animals have a part in the garden. I like that it shows what foods come from nature, and how to harvest and then eat them. It's fun to read, and very enjoyable. The illustrations are wonderful, and I like that it targets kids of all ages and cultures. From seeds and roots in the ground, to picking things off of trees, the work put into gardening and where our food comes from shows young readers, that they can even have a garden of their own. GROW: How We Get Food from Our Garden is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
October 17, 2020
Grow! How We Get Food from Our Garden)
(children's literature, poetry, gardening, plants, plant life cycle, food we eat)
Grow! is a fun poem that lists the fruits, vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers we get from the garden. Too often these days children don't know where their food comes from. They know it comes from the grocery store... but where does it come from before that?
If you are an elementary school teacher, Grow! would be a terrific book to use during your science lessons about the plant life cycle and the products we use that come from plants. Some teachers like to do a plant 'taste-test' in which students taste roots (carrots), stems (celery), leaves (spinach), fruits (apples), seeds (pumpkin seeds) and flowers (pineapple). Grow! would be the perfect 'taste-test' book.
Best for elementary grades who students plants and plant life cycles. Whole group reading.
Kelly Wilson
Teacher / Blogger
www.kellysclassroomonline.com
(children's literature, poetry, gardening, plants, plant life cycle, food we eat)
Grow! is a fun poem that lists the fruits, vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers we get from the garden. Too often these days children don't know where their food comes from. They know it comes from the grocery store... but where does it come from before that?
If you are an elementary school teacher, Grow! would be a terrific book to use during your science lessons about the plant life cycle and the products we use that come from plants. Some teachers like to do a plant 'taste-test' in which students taste roots (carrots), stems (celery), leaves (spinach), fruits (apples), seeds (pumpkin seeds) and flowers (pineapple). Grow! would be the perfect 'taste-test' book.
Best for elementary grades who students plants and plant life cycles. Whole group reading.
Kelly Wilson
Teacher / Blogger
www.kellysclassroomonline.com
October 3, 2020
Every now and then I get the opportunity to read and review a children's book. I loved this book. If I were a child I know that I would absolutely love to read and re-read this fun, beautifully illustrated book. The text is in rhyme and and tells a tale from seed to harvest.
The pictures are all so appealing to young minds. They are colorful and bright which easily will draw their attention. It touches on all the phases of plants, sunshine, rain, all in a delightful way. This will certainly give children an increased interest in what grows in the garden and that those wonderful garden plants are edible or beautiful to look at. I am sure this will give children new and fun insights into the back yard garden.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own.
The pictures are all so appealing to young minds. They are colorful and bright which easily will draw their attention. It touches on all the phases of plants, sunshine, rain, all in a delightful way. This will certainly give children an increased interest in what grows in the garden and that those wonderful garden plants are edible or beautiful to look at. I am sure this will give children new and fun insights into the back yard garden.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own.
October 13, 2020
Karl Beckstrand has created an easy to understand book for children about how to grow food. It is full of colorful and beautiful Illustrations by Zanara. The first part is dedicated to how plants grow. Then it talks about animals, all in a harmonious way. I enjoyed the way the words were portrayed in the book. It seemed to flow flawlessly.
This book will be loved by children of all ages. It can be universally understood, since growing plants occur in the whole world. It is a great and colorful gift for any child. Includes online tips for starting your own garden. Tongue twister for ages 4 – 7; 325 dyslexic-friendly words.
This book will be loved by children of all ages. It can be universally understood, since growing plants occur in the whole world. It is a great and colorful gift for any child. Includes online tips for starting your own garden. Tongue twister for ages 4 – 7; 325 dyslexic-friendly words.
May 28, 2024
"GROW: How We Get Food from Our Garden" is an amazing book that I thoroughly enjoyed. The simplicity in explaining the process of growing food made it not only educational but also engaging for young readers. The colorful and captivating illustrations added a delightful visual aspect to the learning journey. I appreciate how the book fosters a better understanding of where our food comes from, making it an excellent choice for introducing kids to the joys of gardening. I highly recommend "GROW" for its educational value and the enjoyable way it teaches kids about the fascinating world of food cultivation.
December 7, 2020
This book tells, simply, how food is grown, nourished, and harvested. Along the way, there are several pages with just lists of words (in poem fashion) of garden produce. One or two pages do share interesting tidbits about plants, but the majority of this book is a cute little poem that can be fun to read.
The illustrations are absolutely fantastic and I've found myself looking at them over and over again. I love all the bright colors and the joy behind each work of art...
Read the rest of my review here: http://agoodreid.blogspot.com/2020/11...
The illustrations are absolutely fantastic and I've found myself looking at them over and over again. I love all the bright colors and the joy behind each work of art...
Read the rest of my review here: http://agoodreid.blogspot.com/2020/11...
January 29, 2021
I did not enjoy this book at all, and I can't really see any kids that I know liking it either. First of all, it was just... odd. It starts out with a maybe sorta story of some gardening activities. But then it mostly becomes just random groupings of words. One page is about pine trees; another just has a bunch of alliterative words. One of the pages features a cool little fact, but just that one page. The point of the book never seems to be made, if there even is one.
I received a free eBook copy of this title from the author, and have willingly provided an honest review.
I received a free eBook copy of this title from the author, and have willingly provided an honest review.
October 8, 2020
This book kind of explains the process of how we grow our food and the importance of insects (even though I am terrified of bugs, especially spiders). It all ties together. Everything under the sun has a purpose. And the cycle repeats.
October 17, 2020
Add to your gardening vocabulary!
Karl Beckstrand writes a fun and engaging book that shows the joy in gardening and introduces gardening terms and vocabulary in a delightful way.
Karl Beckstrand writes a fun and engaging book that shows the joy in gardening and introduces gardening terms and vocabulary in a delightful way.
November 21, 2020
I love the idea of this book. Creating a tongue twister out of plant names, growing and gardening terms. So fun! My kids love fox in socks and this is such a unique spin on that reading challenge
November 30, 2020
Grow! How We Get Food From Our Garden is a neat little children's book that teaches kids all about the different types of food (and herbs and flowers) you can grow. From turnips to tomatoes, roses to radishes, and everything in between. There's potential for children to learn about new things within these pages. There are also tips for starting a garden if that is something young readers might be interested in doing.
Overall, a unique and educational children's book that I would recommend.
4 stars.
Overall, a unique and educational children's book that I would recommend.
4 stars.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews