About This Book
A parent might reach for this book when they are navigating the common preschool hurdle of picky eating or when their child begins showing curiosity about the letters of the alphabet. It is a vibrant, visual celebration of the natural world that transforms a trip to the grocery store into an artistic adventure. Rather than a narrative story, it provides a lush gallery of watercolors that introduces children to both familiar favorites like apples and exotic wonders like kohlrabi and jicama. Through its bold illustrations, the book fosters a sense of wonder and joy regarding healthy foods. It is perfectly suited for children aged 0 to 5, serving as both a primary alphabet primer and a vocabulary builder. Parents will appreciate the detailed glossary at the end, which provides botanical facts and history, making it a resource that grows with the child from toddlerhood into early elementary school.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
None.
Ideal Reader
A preschooler who is beginning to recognize letters and may be hesitant to try new foods. It is also perfect for a child who enjoys helping in the garden or accompanying parents to a farmer's market.
Parent Prep
The book can be read cold, but parents may want to glance at the glossary in the back beforehand to be ready with 'fun facts' about some of the more unusual vegetables like endive or radicchio. None.
Age Experience
For a 1 or 2-year-old, this is a color and shape identification book. A 3 to 4-year-old will focus on the letter-sound correspondence. A 5-year-old will be interested in the glossary and the challenge of finding these items in a real grocery store.
What Makes It Special
Lois Ehlert's signature cut-paper and watercolor style sets this apart from typical photographic alphabet books. It treats produce as high art and includes a sophisticated level of botanical variety rarely seen in board books or early picture books.
Read plot summary
This is a non-narrative concept book that moves alphabetically through a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Each page features large-scale watercolor illustrations of produce corresponding to specific letters, showing both upper- and lowercase versions of each letter.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Look at the letter K. Have you ever seen a Kiwifruit or a Kohlrabi before? What colors do you see on them?
2
Which fruit or vegetable in this book looks like something you would love to taste for the first time?
3
Many of these foods grow in a garden. If we had a garden, which letter of the alphabet would you want to plant first?
4
Can you find a vegetable that is the same color as your shirt?
