Children's Literature — Farm Field Trips

GOOD FARM FIELD TRIP CHILDREN’S BOOKS

 A Farmer's Alphabet by Mary Azarian - wood cuts that should be framed; each letter of the alphabet is a farm-associated word (play a game of thinking of other farm words that Mary didn't use...make your own farm alphabet book!)

Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert - All Lois Ehlert books are wonderful. Great book for introducing garden to young folks

Jack's Garden by Henry Cole - a cumulative text (similar to 12 Days of Christmas, building as you go, and explains how a garden works and the animals involved)

Jody's Beans by Malachy Doyle - through spring, summer and fall, Jody and her granda watch her scarlet runner beans grow; a sweet book

This Year's Garden by Cynthia Rylant (anything by Rylant is wonderful, can't go wrong) - tells the year in the garden with typical Rylant-poetic lyricism; good for rereading at different times of the year

Two Old Potatoes and Me by John Coy - a wonderful new book that tells the story of growing potatoes, with a recipe for mashed potatoes at the end. Also a subtle comment on divorce/separation to give comfort to children who might be experiencing that themselves

All the Places to Love by Patricia MacLachlen - building an appreciation of place, sense of place

The Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant - beautiful illustrations, peaceful text, great for choral reading and writer's workshop

Scarlette Beane by Karen Wallace - a fantastic tale of growing vegetables; seeing the miracles of the garden; children will hoot with pleasure

A Harvest of Color - Growing a Vegetable Garden by Melanie Eclare - wonderful photographs coupled with growing tips from kids

A is for Appalachia! - The Alphabet Book of Appalachian Heritage by Linda Pack - Appalachia, the people, the geographic region, the culture

Pumpkin Circle - The Story of a Garden by George Levenson - a first rate intro to the growth cycle coupled with outstanding photos and rhythmic text that provide a wealth of information! Winner of numerous awards.

Insectlopedia by Douglas Florian - children just shriek with laughter and amazement at his clever rhymes (great book for a really good read aloud)