Thank a Farmer

Gr 1-3–Kids rarely know where their food grows or how it is prepared for them before it hits their table. This book shows the intricate path of the food delivery system that brings the goods to their kitchens. The story is written in a rhythmic way and highlights some new and interesting vocabulary. The illustrator uses a colorful palette to represent the richness of green vegetables, bright red of strawberries, sunny yellow of lemons, blue of berries, clay-colored earth, and all the natural colors in between. The story is informative and fun, and the back matter is sizable, with plentiful resources for further research or guided study. Books that eloquently address the genesis of everyday things are few and far between. Harriet Ziefert’s A New Coat for Anna details all the steps Anna’s mother takes to construct a coat. Marguerita Rudolph’s How a Shirt Grew in the Field also comes to mind. Young readers will be intrigued by Gianferrari’s offering.