Gardening by the Numbers

May 1, 2008
Gr 3-6-These titles are designed to complement content standards in a way that promotes analytical thinking and encourages lifelong skills. For the most part, they are successful. "Breakfast" builds on the USDA's food pyramid to emphasize the importance of a healthy breakfast and gives practical suggestions for how to get the most nutrients out of calories consumed. "Gardening", while also appealing in its clear writing, has almost no photographs of children, instead showing primarily fruits, vegetables, and gardens. With its narrower scope, it may find less of an audience, although the focus on fruits and vegetables does tie in well to "Breakfast", and the suggestion of a gardening notebook does promote organizational skills. "Investing" examines the importance of short-term and long-term savings and explains the pros and cons of savings accounts, certificates of deposit, government bonds, and stocks. Engaging full-color photographs on every page feature diverse children and families, and plenty of white space. Teachers will appreciate the "real world math challenges" that appear throughout the books, although the complexity of the questions within each book varies widely. While not as comprehensive as some titles, all three are solid purchases."Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.