About This Book
Reach for this book when your child starts asking where their dinner comes from or shows a budding interest in helping out in the garden. It is the perfect tool for grounding a child's natural curiosity in the tangible, scientific reality of the natural world. By following the life cycle of a simple bean, the book subtly introduces the emotional rewards of patience and the joy of seeing hard work literally bear fruit. Angela Royston uses clear, sequenced photography to demystify the transition from a dry seed to a lush plant. This is a brilliant choice for children aged 4 to 7 who are moving from magical thinking toward a desire for concrete facts. It transforms a mundane kitchen staple into a source of wonder, encouraging kids to slow down and observe the small miracles happening right under their feet.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
None. The book is entirely secular and factual, focusing on botanical biology.
Ideal Reader
A preschooler or kindergartner who is an emerging "little scientist." It is particularly suited for a child who lacks access to a large outdoor space but wants to understand how the natural world functions.
Parent Prep
This book can be read cold. However, parents might want to have a few dried beans and a damp paper towel ready to start a germination experiment immediately after finishing the book. A parent might reach for this after seeing their child poke at seeds in the garden or express frustration that a plant they watered yesterday hasn't grown taller today.
