The Amazing Life Cycle of Plants

Barnham invites readers to “Get ready to dig deep and find out more about the amazing life cycle of a plant” in this addition to the Look and Wonder series of nonfiction titles. A boy and girl dressed in gardening gear appear in brightly colored images that resemble cut-paper collage. The children identify and plant seeds in their garden, then observe as they sprout buds and show petals. Barnham discusses concepts such as photosynthesis and pollination in an easy-to-grasp manner: “The plant’s leaves are very important. They take in a gas called carbon dioxide. When this gas mixes with water and sunlight, it makes a sugary food for the plant.” The children travel far beyond their own garden to see a variety of wild plants growing. While rowing through a woodland pond, the children spot ferns, mosses, and algae, and they picnic on an island where a Madagascar palm tree grows. A spirited introduction to plant biology. Ages 5–8. (May)