A Seed Is Sleepy (ISBN 0811855201)

Genius.:
Sometimes a book is so lovely, it is difficult to review. You just want to throw a bunch of words out, like, "stunning," "superb," "gorgeous," and "accomplished." There. I'm done. No? Okay, then, on with the review. Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long team up again after their Cybils Non-Fiction Award-winning "An Egg is Quiet." Now I know what all the fuss is about. Aston takes a non-fiction topic and turns it into a lyrical work of genius. In "A Seed is Sleepy" the seed is the topic du jour. Now we've all read a non-fiction title or two about seeds. But Aston's genius is taking the mundane and making it beautiful. Take the opening page, for example: A seed is sleepy. It lies there, tucked inside its flower, or its cone, or beneath the soil. Snug. Still. Rendered in open, easy-to-read cursive, these lines are pure poetry and set the frame for the book. Each double-page spread begins with a similar seed statement and Dianna Hutts Aston's choices are always unexpected. My favorite is "A seed is inventive" and is followed by: To find a spot to grow, A seed might leap from its pod, (violet) or cling to a child's shoestring, (cocklebur) or tumble through a bear's belly. (Red huckleberry) A seed hopes to land where there is plenty of sunlight, soil, and water. Sylvia Long's ink and watercolor illustrations are worthy of any nineteenth-century illustrated nature classic. Full color and lush, you want to snip each one out and make a gorgeous collage until you remember you'd destroy this amazing book. "A Seed is Sleepy" will be enjoyed by children of all ages and all tastes. The story fan will appreciate Aston's way with words, while the non-fiction freak will relish the information presented. And the best news? Parents won't be bored reading this one aloud, either.

Much recommended:
I have read this book to my 6 & 8 yr old grandkids. Actually, my 8-yr old read most of it to me. Beyond what the other reviewers say, this book will be attractive to kids over a range of ages -- and interesting over more than 1 year -- because at one end, a good part of the text is readable, even poetic, and nontechnical; and another part is rather technical, meaning that the kids will learn something new each time they read it. (Such as about monocots and dicots.) Both of my children did seed projects in school and this fits right in; adding things and affirming others. Also, the illustrations are very good -- and I have had a few botany courses. I do have a small reservation: saying that a seed leaps out of its pod or is sleepy. But I explained to the kids that these words were being used poetically and they seemed unbothered by it.

Beautiful Art, Beautiful Words:
At first glance, this book appears to be a simple ode to seeds with beautiful drawings. Each page contains a sentence that starts with "A seed is..." followed by an adjective. However, the author then gives us fascinating factual information about why the adjective describes seeds. This is a great way to teach kids about seeds and also allow them to epose them to a multitude of seeds they would otherwise have never seen! Also check out the companion book, "An Egg is Quiet."

GORGEOUS!:
I LOVE this book. It was recommended in Mothering magazine, so I decided to check it out. This book, and the one published previously by the same duo (An Egg is Quiet) are beautifully illustrated. My baby is only 7 months old, so we haven't passed board books yet, but I can't wait until she can sit and listen to the verse in these books. I would say the minimum age would be three, but kids will love it until ten years of age or so!

Another Keeper:
Another wonderful book by Dianna Hutts Aston. Beautifully illustrated and written, it captures the students' interest immediately.