  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 08/01/2016 PreS-Gr 1—A beautifully photographed tribute to the food we eat and the people who grow and catch it. Rotner urges readers to be grateful for the work done by food producers: "We can thank our farmers and fishermen for our food. They grow the vegetables, grains and fruits; they raise the animals and catch the fish we eat." Various farmers and fishermen from around the world are then featured with the food they harvest. Readers will be excited to learn of the wide range of farmers there are, from vegetable, berry, citrus, corn, and rice to chicken, shellfish, and more. The crisp photos show the harvesters displaying their products proudly. There is an emphasis on produce grown or meat raised in responsible ways and the need for clean water, fresh air, and good soil to grow nutritious crops. It should be noted that while the pages about meat are not explicit, it is clear that animals such as cattle and pigs are raised for consumption. The bright, clear photos and the minimal text, which includes quotes from farmers and interesting facts ("Corn always has an even number of rows"), make for a simple but enjoyable reading experience. VERDICT A good introduction to the farm-to-table movement for elementary students.—Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Fort Thomas, KY - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 10/01/2016 *Starred Review* Who grows the crops, raises the animals, and catches the fish we eat? Writer and photographer Rotner supplies the answers in a short, accessible text accompanied by exceptionally vivid, color-splashed photos. Full of pride and joy, these pictures include scenes of gardeners and farmers with their produce and animals, professional fishermen with their catch, and children enjoying the process of growing their food, as well as the pleasure of eating it. The text encourages kids to think about the sources of their food and thank those who labor to provide it. Many individual pages, focusing on topics such as berry or egg farming, include a short first-person paragraph from the farmer’s or fisherman’s point of view and a simple related fact or two, such as, “Corn always has an even number of rows.” Even wordless pages can be informative, such as the one with four narrow horizontal photos showing a row of lettuces developing from sprouts to full, leafy heads. Spotlighting a diverse group of women, men, and children who seem comfortable with the camera, Rotner’s inviting portraits capture her subjects’ satisfaction with their work and enjoyment of the food. Highly recommended for preschool and primary-grade units on where food comes from. - Copyright 2016 Booklist. Loading...
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