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Watch Me Grow!

March 26, 2011 by Jennifer

Last fall I reviewed Up We Grow, an account of a small farm. I loved the story and the pictures and the information so much, I added it to our 5-Star Reads page.

Kids Can Press has followed up with Watch Me Grow! A Down-to-Earth Look at Growing Food in the City.

This book by Deborah Hodge with beautiful photographs by Brian Harris uses Vancouver, B.C. as the city in question. We are reminded on the first page,

A seed is a new life, waiting to grow. It can sprout anywhere — even in a busy city!

The tone of the books is very child-friendly, with a sort of Mr. Rogers method of explaining, challenging, and asking questions. For example, the text challenges children to look carefully for city gardens, explains where they might be, then asks “Do you have a patch of earth or a container you can turn into a garden?”

This book not only looks at produce, but also chickens and honeybees.

Hodges then outlines how some people share their gardens, either with those in need for humanitarian reasons, or simply making your garden a friendly place that you can share with birds and bees.

Another section deals with eating all the delicious produce, which will hopefully prompt kids to try something new.
Check out my companion piece, Books as a Gateway — to Healthy Eating, where I mention both of these books specifically, as well as my new connection with the Hidden Valley Ranch Love Your Veggies mom panel.

I am pleased to be able to offer a copy of Kids Can Press has followed up with Watch Me Grow! A Down-to-Earth Look at Growing Food in the City. If you are interested please leave a comment. U.S. and Canadian addresses are eligible. The winner will be announced on April 6.
This giveaway is closed.

Check out our current giveaways. Subscribe to our feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter or on Facebook.

Filed Under: Children's Books, Children's Non-fiction, Easy Readers, Jennifer, Middle Grade Chapter Books

« An Apple A Day
Books as a Gateway — to Healthy Eating »

Comments

  1. Anne says

    March 26, 2011 at 1:22 am

    Just getting our little gardent patch ready for the year (and reading some gardening books too.) We’d certainly enjoy another!

  2. Megan says

    March 27, 2011 at 1:45 pm

    This looks like a great way to introduce our little one to the way food grows!
    mearley1979 at gmail dot com

  3. debbie Jackson says

    March 27, 2011 at 3:24 pm

    this would be great
    [email protected]

  4. Beth C says

    March 27, 2011 at 4:54 pm

    Sounds like a very good book. I’d love to be entered.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

  5. Alison S. says

    March 27, 2011 at 5:22 pm

    I think my son would enjoy reading this book.

  6. Jennifer B. says

    March 28, 2011 at 3:30 pm

    My 4-year-old loves gardening. I’d love to win this for her!

  7. Janet says

    March 29, 2011 at 8:20 am

    This would be great too for families that live in rural towns in condos and apartments. Thanks for the opportunity to win 🙂

  8. emily L says

    March 29, 2011 at 9:56 am

    This looks awesome! 🙂

    [email protected]

  9. Sheila K. says

    March 30, 2011 at 10:52 am

    I would love to share this book with my boy Joey!

    skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

  10. Urailak ("LivingforGod") says

    April 2, 2011 at 4:02 am

    I like the front cover :). Please enter me in your giveaway. Thanks!

  11. tennille says

    April 2, 2011 at 7:01 pm

    looks good-especially for this BC girl!

  12. Karen Gonyea says

    April 4, 2011 at 12:03 am

    Sounds wonderful – count me in please 🙂

  13. Michele Anne says

    April 4, 2011 at 7:23 pm

    As a renter, I would love to know more about this. Sounds like a great book.

  14. Shannon Baas says

    April 4, 2011 at 7:28 pm

    Looks like an interesting book.

  15. Jessica Kaufman says

    April 4, 2011 at 7:34 pm

    I’d love to get some gardening ideas from the book.

  16. Ed Nemmers says

    April 4, 2011 at 8:55 pm

    The little ones love helping in the garden!

  17. katklaw777 says

    April 5, 2011 at 7:27 am

    Luv to win these…thanks for the chance!

  18. susan smoaks says

    April 5, 2011 at 8:50 am

    we live in the country but my sister lives in the city and would love this!

  19. evelyn says

    April 5, 2011 at 12:27 pm

    I’d love to read this with my son

    • Jennifer says

      April 5, 2011 at 10:22 pm

      Evelyn — you won this book. Please respond to this email notification with your shipping address.

      Jennifer

  20. Tracy says

    April 5, 2011 at 12:47 pm

    We have a large urban garden, but are relatively new to it and would love to learn to be more efficient with our space – and get more crop for what we have, time and money wise. This book could help us alot!

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