Here are the Seeds by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Olivia Amoah
“Here are the seeds/ that we will sow/ to help our garden grow.”
So begins this book, which follows two black children as they plant seeds and wait for them to grow.
Along the way they learn that the soil, sun, bugs, water, mushrooms, and worms must be in balance make their vegetable garden possible. There is substantive, age-appropriate content here.
This is a rhythmic, cumulative story: “Here is the water/ that works with the sun/ to feed all the plants/ that spring from the earth/ that nurtures the seeds/ that we have sown/ to help our garden grow”, with the repeated refrain “OH NO!” every time calamity threatens to thwart their garden (too much sun, too much rain, and so forth).
A lovely springtime STEM book for toddlers, written and illustrated by black women. Dr JaNay Brown-Wood has written many children’s books and is an author to watch!
Recommended age: 3-6 years
