Grow! Raise! Catch!

July 15, 2016
Engaging color photos depict smiling farmers and fishermen (and fisherwoman) and gleeful children eating their products.The colors are intense, and the prolific photographer captures her subjects from all over the U.S. with big smiles, often in midbite. Adults are of different races and genders, but many are white males. The children are very diverse. The people who "grow, raise and catch" are grouped by product: vegetables, berries, citrus, and fruit; wheat, rice, potato, and corn; dairy, beef, chicken, and pig; and fish, shellfish, and lobster. The last pages mention family farms and urban gardens. Starting with black-and-white photos from the early 20th century, the book makes an Oz-like switch to full color. The text mentions the recent locavore trend of farmers markets and farm stands. Each double-page spread is laid out as a grid with several photos and a block or two of text (white letters on a dark-colored background). Simple, declarative sentences describe foods and people. Interesting facts are mentioned: "Corn always has an even number of rows." Some may wish there could have been a distinction made among different lettuce varieties in the assertion that "even though it's mostly made up of water, it's very nutritious." But that's a small quibble. This will prove to be an attractive, useful book for food and nutrition units in the lower grades. This volume may even lure children (and adults) back to the farm. (glossary) (Informational picture book. 5-7)

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August 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-A beautifully photographed tribute to the food we eat and the people who grow and catch it. Rotner urges readers to be grateful for the work done by food producers: "We can thank our farmers and fishermen for our food. They grow the vegetables, grains and fruits; they raise the animals and catch the fish we eat." Various farmers and fishermen from around the world are then featured with the food they harvest. Readers will be excited to learn of the wide range of farmers there are, from vegetable, berry, citrus, corn, and rice to chicken, shellfish, and more. The crisp photos show the harvesters displaying their products proudly. There is an emphasis on produce grown or meat raised in responsible ways and the need for clean water, fresh air, and good soil to grow nutritious crops. It should be noted that while the pages about meat are not explicit, it is clear that animals such as cattle and pigs are raised for consumption. The bright, clear photos and the minimal text, which includes quotes from farmers and interesting facts ("Corn always has an even number of rows"), make for a simple but enjoyable reading experience. VERDICT A good introduction to the farm-to-table movement for elementary students.-Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Fort Thomas, KY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from October 1, 2016
Preschool-G *Starred Review* Who grows the crops, raises the animals, and catches the fish we eat? Writer and photographer Rotner supplies the answers in a short, accessible text accompanied by exceptionally vivid, color-splashed photos. Full of pride and joy, these pictures include scenes of gardeners and farmers with their produce and animals, professional fishermen with their catch, and children enjoying the process of growing their food, as well as the pleasure of eating it. The text encourages kids to think about the sources of their food and thank those who labor to provide it. Many individual pages, focusing on topics such as berry or egg farming, include a short first-person paragraph from the farmer's or fisherman's point of view and a simple related fact or two, such as, Corn always has an even number of rows. Even wordless pages can be informative, such as the one with four narrow horizontal photos showing a row of lettuces developing from sprouts to full, leafy heads. Spotlighting a diverse group of women, men, and children who seem comfortable with the camera, Rotner's inviting portraits capture her subjects' satisfaction with their work and enjoyment of the food. Highly recommended for preschool and primary-grade units on where food comes from.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)