Let It Grow

March 1, 2019

Gr 1-3-The attractive Frozen theme and characters will entice readers to dig into the 12 different activities involving plants. The title is a misnomer as it refers to a guide to gardening, but there isn't anything about planting a garden or growing your own food. A short introduction, featuring questions posed by the Frozen characters, encourages students to try the different activities. On each double-page spread, you find Olaf, Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, and Anna in a cute pose, along with a "What You Need" and "What Do You Think?" bulletin, and step-by-step directions to complete an activity. Helpful photos clarify the directions. The book includes fun, artistic tasks such as making a new plant using cut-outs from magazines, creating plant prints with fruits and vegetable-based stencils, or using food coloring to change the color of the petals on a flower are mixed with more scientific activities. Other assignments include making a terrarium from a three-liter soda bottle, finding the colors in leaves, and finding out how plant seeds move by using an old pair of socks. Patience will be needed when it comes to learning about plants. Kids will be drawn to the book because of the Disney characters. The exercises are simple and cute but without adult supervision, they will not get done. Back matter includes a short glossary, further book recommendations, websites to visit, and a short index. VERDICT Pick up only if you need to draw the attention to plant activities with young girls-otherwise, let it go.-Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.