A Seed is the Start

Gr 1–3—Engaging text and crisp nature photography capture the surprisingly dynamic journey of seeds as they grow, travel, sprout, and trigger the cycle anew. Action verbs are abound as seeds "fly," "float," "pop," and even "ride, to name a few. Stewart weaves fascinating facts about specific plants into a cohesive and sequential narrative that covers each step of the life cycle. The photographs are bright and vivid, supporting the flow of text and expanding upon the broader context of the content. A blurb about how seeds float away to new places ("Cottonwood trees grow near rivers and lakes. Their tiny, fluff-covered seeds land on the water and travel to new places.") makes a visual connection for the reader through an accompanying photo of a duckling swimming along a lake. Ample, legible typeface, along with arrows and other indicators, make for an intuitive reading experience. An illustrated glossary greets readers at the front of the book, defining six key words; an index, selection of books, and a website for further reading are found at the end.