Children's Literature — K-2

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).

The Moonflower by Peter Loewer (an Ashevillian) not only do children learn about moonflowers but also about their pollinators and life that happens all around them! Great mix of fiction/nonfiction too!

Over in the Garden by Jennifer Ward - used as a counting book, to glean info about bugs in the garden...many choices. It also can be sung to the tune of Over in the Meadow (has music score to play recorder or other instrument to).

Round the Garden by Omri Glaser - circular text WRITTEN BY AN 8-YEAR OLD! Precious illustrations and children should get a kick out of a book written by a contemporary. Again the fict/nonfict as it does impart some useful info.

Some people may argue with me that there is any nonfiction in this book, Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens - a trickster tale that also shows the differences between root, leaf, and stalk vegetables.

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle - great art, explains the cycle of life in a kid-like story fashion.

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

Eating the Alphabet - Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z by Lois Ehlert - a good way to introduce new veggies and fruits with a helpful glossary (there's a video by Ehlert where she explains her art style; would be nice to view this in accompaniment to reading this book).

Ten Seeds by Ruth Brown – great to see what your kids can get out of this book; counting at the very least!

Inch by Inch by David Mallet – are you old enough to remember the Mamas and the Pappas? If so, you might remember this song that originally was a poem and is now a children’s book!

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