Apples for All: A Story About Grafting written & illustrated by Mary Peterson - Celebrate "Kid's Garden Month" - [Review & Giveaway]

Feeding Minds Press presents Apples for All: A Story About Grafting written and illustrated by Mary Peterson.

A family-filled picture book that teaches children about the science of grafting and apple growing.

ISBN: 9781948898201
Hardcover $18.99
Feeding Minds Press

My thoughts:  Most all of us have desired to plant an apple or orange or peach seed from a delicious piece of fruit we've eaten and grow our own delicious fruit. The same is true for young Bobbi - an active, curious, young farmer's daughter. She's enjoyed her apple and wants to grow more just like it!

She approaches her Grandpa on the family farm and asks him to help her plant her apple seed so she can grow her own apples and even make delicious applesauce. Grandpa proceeds to tell her that seeds don't usually grow into trees that bear the same type of fruit. He then shows her how to graft a branch onto another "basic" apple tree and get the type of apple she desires.

This is basic tree grafting and doesn't get into the genetics of plants and how to propagate new species, etc. It is simple grafting and growing. And it is such a sweet family story of gentle education and on-hand learning. Not everyone has the opportunity propagate their own fruit and grow it, but for those who do it surely gives a grand sense of accomplishment and a reaping of delicious benefits.

This is another of Feeding Minds Press children's books that I absolutely love. 

About the book: Bobbi’s family loves apples! The only problem? They can’t agree on which type to grow! Gala? Granny Smith? McIntosh? When Bobbi discovers the solution – grafting – her family comes together to care for one very special tree. The result? Apples for all!

This children’s picture book, written and illustrated in the fun and colorful style of Mary Peterson, introduces young readers to the fascinating world of apples, apple trees, and the science of tree grafting.

Perfect for curious kids who love nature, gardening, and learning where food comes from, this STEM-aligned story makes a great classroom resource or gift for budding gardeners, scientists, and apple lovers! Filled with engaging facts about apples, tree grafting, and the heartwarming theme of compromise, APPLES FOR ALL! is not just a delightful read that will resonate with young readers, but also a valuable educational resource. Informational backmatter includes fun apple facts, an apple variety guide, and an applesauce recipe!

Feeding Minds Press, a project of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, is committed to fostering awareness and understanding of agriculture through education. Our books, including APPLES FOR ALL!, aim to help young readers understand where their food comes from, its journey to their plate, and the role of agriculture in our lives. Explore our website, Feedingmindspress.com, for accompanying lessons, activities, and videos that enhance the learning experience.

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Begins April 13

Ends May 13 @ 11:59 p.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

Apples for All: A Story About Grafting by Mary Peterson (Open USA only)

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of the book to facilitate a review. Winner's prize copy is provided by and mailed directly to the winner by publisher or publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

Our Christmas Tree Farm by Lisa J. Amstutz & Christina Forshay, Illustrator (Feeding Minds Press0 [Review & Giveaway]

My thoughts:  This is truly a delightful story and so much educational information, too. I love how this family planted a seedling of a evergreen tree (i.e. Christmas tree type tree) when the little girl who is now seven was just a baby. She has watched and tended the little tree through the years. This year the plan is for her to cut it down and decorate it as her own tree.

Activity on the tree farm goes on all year long as they plant, tend, harvest, and then sell the trees. When it's time to open the farm for customers to select their own trees, it all comes alive with joy and treats.

Back information is truly informative. I found it especially interesting that rootings can be made from cuttings from trees and then planted to grow to full size.

A terrific book for libraries everywhere. A treat book for families that engage in the thrill that comes from going to a tree farm, selecting your own tree, helping cut it down, and having treats while there.

About the book: Customers have arrived at the Christmas tree farm, and Kate's whole family comes together to help―even Daisy the dog! Popping corn, setting up sleds, and baling trees keep the family busy while they maintain a watchful eye on one truly special tree.

Throughout the years, Papa has trimmed the trees, Mom has mowed the paths, and one extra special tree was planted for Kate. She and her tree are both seven years old and―finally!― the tree has grown tall enough to be brought inside and decorated for Christmas. Little brother Henry loves the tree so much that the family decides to graft a piece of it so they can grow Henry his very own Christmas tree, too.

With its vibrant illustrations, lyrical writing, and fun facts about a tree farm, OUR CHRISTMAS TREE FARM promises to become a new holiday tradition to enjoy for years to come.

This holiday picture book features information on how trees are grown and cared for on a farm. Extensive backmatter includes facts about Christmas trees and tree farms, how to graft a new tree from a twig, and the eco-friendly way to recycle a Christmas tree.

Author: Lisa Amstutz is the author of more than 150 books for kids. As a child, she enjoyed helping with her family's Christmas tree patch and other small farming ventures. Today she writes about nature, sustainability, and agriculture from a small farm of her own. To learn more, see www.LisaAmstutz.com.

Illustrator: Christina Forshay was born and raised in sunny Southern California. During the holidays, she loves sipping on hot cocoa, snuggling with her kids and kitties, watching classic movies, and, of course, decorating her Christmas tree! When she’s not illustrating, you can find Christina having adventures on a golf course, on a soccer field, at the beach, at a museum, or at a concert! Find more of her work at www.christinaforshay.com.

🎄GIVEAWAY🎄

Begins October 24

Ends November 21 @ 11:59 p.m. ET

Open to USA addresses only

Our Christmas Tree Farm by Lisa J. Amstutz (Open USA only)

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's copy is provided by and mailed directly to the winner by publicist or publisher. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes. Feeding Minds Press/Our Christmas Tree

I LOVE Blueberries! by Shannon Anderson & illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett [Review & Giveaway]

Famers and folks who love gardening - food or flower gardens - quite often take the cold, shut-in months of December, January, and February to peruse seed catalogues and plan planting and harvesting for the soon-to-come warm days.

Now envision BLUEBERRIES!!!!

Feeding Minds Press
ISBN: 9789848898195
Ages 5-9 Years

My thoughts:  In I Love Blueberries! the reader is introduced to the concept of hydroponic gardening and the possibility of growing blueberries indoors using the hydroponic method. The girl's teacher is already growing strawberries using this method; and it imbues the girls with a desire to investigate the method for blueberries, formulate a plan, gather supplies, and implement the activity.

In the background of the story, young Jolie has already begun her journey into blueberry cultivation by learning to germinate the plants from seeds in dirt-filled cups, watch them grown, and transplant them into the garden. A new girl is introduced in this story. Margot is a transplant from the northern state of Maine where blueberries are a major crop. Margot becomes a co-planner in the endeavor to grown blueberries.

This book deserves a place on the STEM bookshelf for readers ages 5 to 12.

About the book: Berry-loving Jolie is back, and this time she has a new friend! Margot has just moved to town and misses Maine — especially the blueberries. Determined to help, Jolie turns to their teacher to learn how hydroponics helps the strawberries in their classroom grow. Unfortunately, it’s a costly system and there’s no money left from the grant that helped the class start their indoor strawberry patch. Undeterred, Jolie, Margot, and their diverse group of classmates brainstorm ways to get the equipment they need, and they come up with just the thing: a Blueberry Bash!

The students invite the local community to a show-and-tell — featuring homemade decorations (blue, of course), blueberry muffins, and even a blueberry-themed poem! — where they explain their gardening goals, and inspire the community to come together and help the class achieve their berry-growing dreams.

Sinquett’s illustrations of Jolie’s exuberant, scrapbook-style journal and Margot’s sketchbook bring Anderson’s delightful tale to life, and will keep kids engaged as they learn all about the wonders of hydroponics and indoor gardening, and the many health benefits of blueberries.

Just in time for Kids Garden Month in April and National Blueberry Pie Day on April 28th, this heartwarming story encourages curiosity, problem solving, and a thirst for knowledge in young readers and shows them that, with the power of friendship and community, they can grow to new heights.

GIVEAWAY

1 Copy: I LOVE BLUEBERRIES!

Begins February 15

Ends March 16 @ 12:01 a.m. EST

Limited to USA address entries only.

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DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's prize is provided and sent to winner by publisher or publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

The Soil in Jackie’s Garden by award-winning author Peggy Thomas and illustrated by Neely Daggett [Review & Giveaway]

This spring, celebrate "National Learn About Composting Day" with The Soil in Jackie's Garden by Peggy Thomas & illustrated by Neely Daggett.

 

ISBN: 9781948898164
Hardcover $18.99 Ages 6-8
Feeding Minds Press

My thoughts:  Out-of-doors season has arrived and one of the joys of the warm weather days is planting a garden - vegetables, fruits, or flowers. And they all require soil. And they all require digging.

It's what is in the soil plus sun and rain that makes the garden and all it's loveliness grow. In the delightfully entertaining and educational book, The Soil in Jackie's Garden, young Jackie learns all about how she can enrich the soil and what it takes to get the soil to be productive - including critters that wiggle and squirm down deep in the dark moist dirt.

This charming book displays vertically (a bit different from regular printings) and that just seems to help visualize how it takes going deep down for soil to be enriched and effective. Young readers will be enticed to get a shovel, make a compost pile, dig a garden, find an earth worm, and be in absolute awe when they see their seeds sprout and seedlings grow to fruition.

Feeding Minds Press accurately presents factual knowledge in a format that children can understand. Children learn that there is more than a visit to the grocery store to putting a meal on the table. It takes soil. It takes digging. It takes attention to our environment.

I highly recommend this book for families and libraries. 

About the book: Join Jackie and her garden friends in this charming picture book as they discover the wonders of gardening, soil secrets, and the magic of composting Jackie and her garden friends embrace the joys of planting a garden, nurturing and harvesting their own food, and recycling scraps to compost, ensuring that the magical cycle of growth and sustainability continues anew. Science facts about soil, plants, pollinators, decomposers, and more are included on every spread. Secret word: garden

A fantastic book to engage young readers in becoming environmental stewards, learning how to care for a garden, understanding a plant life cycle, discovering the power of pollinators and the importance of composting. Written in the cumulative style of "The House that Jack Built," this playful celebration of how things grow, return to the earth, and grow again will inspire young readers to try their hands at gardening and composting. Back matter includes information on the soil cycle and how to make a compost pile.

GIVEAWAY

Begins April 6

Ends May 15 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's prize is provided and sent directly to the winner by publicist or publisher. Chat With Vera is not responsible. for lost or misdirected prizes.

Feeding Minds Press presents Potatoes for Pirate Pearl by Jennifer Concepcion and illustrated by Chloe Burgett

ISBN: 978-1-948-89815-7
Hardcover $18.99
Ages 4-8 | 40 pages

My thoughts: This is a delightful book that children will like. I have grown quite fond of the books from Feeding Minds Press and love how they entertain and educate children with quality text and really cute illustrations.

Learning about the process of growing potatoes is presented in an entertaining mode in Potatoes for Pirate Pearl (notice the alliteration!). Truly a fun "pirate" story with lots of pirate-ty vocabulary and an adorable parrot, with more cute alliteration, a very hungry pirate who discovers Farmer Fay's potato farm, and back pages that have information and recipes for potato delights.