I LOVE Strawberries
by Shannon Anderson; illus. by Jaclyn Sinquett
32 pages; ages 4-8
Feeding Minds Press, 2022
theme: gardening, responsibility
“Mom, can I grow strawberries of my very own?”
Jolie loves strawberries so much that she would eat them every day if she could. Her solution: grow her own. But that’s a lot of work, and mom and dad think she should wait until she’s older to tackle such a venture. So Jolie sets out on a mission: to show her parents that she is able to take on the responsibilities of a berry grower. She starts by cleaning her rabbit’s cage. Then she devises other ways to demonstrate that she is “old enough” to grow strawberries.
What I like about this book: I like the scrapbook-like entries Jolie puts in her journal. And I love how she sets herself specific missions to show her parents what she can do on her own. And what she does when she finally gets to plant her very own strawberries. Of course there’s a dose of reality: bird attacks, insects, too many berries (seriously, Jolie? too many?)
And I like the backmatter: tips on growing strawberries, some explanation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and some tips for locating U-pick berry farms. Plus there are links to educational activities and videos.
Beyond the Books:
Make strawberry ink. If you’ve eaten all your strawberries, you can use other berries to make ink. Here’s how.
Plant a strawberry seed, or a couple hundred. Here’s how.
Visit a U-Pick berry farm and pick your own strawberries! Then eat them!
Today we're joining Perfect Picture Book Friday, an event where bloggers share great picture books at Susanna Leonard Hill's website. Review copy provided by Media Master’s Publicity
Sad to think there might really be parents out there that say it’s hard work to grow strawberries, but I’m glad to see a book that shows kids how. My biggest competitor is a family of cheeky squirrels. Will be looking for it!
ReplyDeleteOops - that was me!
DeleteClever idea for a book. I had a strawberry patch and loved caring for it as a child. And, I love the great cover! Very appealing to kids who want to garden!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for a book. I'll bet there will be a lot of new gardeners out there. Thanks for telling me about this and getting me in a strawberry mood.
ReplyDeleteSue, I love that cover and the journal entries. Battling pesky birds & squirrels to actually harvest strawberries is a yearly challenge. What great activities - especially the strawberry ink! Thanks for featuring this one!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds both fun and educational, and I like the spunk she shows for convincing her parents that she's ready. And the art! Jaclyn Sinquett is one of my new favorite illustrators. Oh, and yes, when the strawberries finally "come in," well I remember actually getting tired of eating strawberries, LOL. I miss having a garden.
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