Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table by Jacqueline Briggs Martin - ADVISABLE

Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table by Jacqueline Briggs Martin illustrated by Eric-Shabazz Larkin, NON FICTION Readers to Eaters Books, 2013. $10.

 BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

When Will Allen was a boy, he lived and worked on a farm, then, as an adult, he lived in a big city and realized that the people there don't have access to fresh vegetables, so he did something about it. He bought a large vacant lot in the middle of the city, used worms and compost (provided by the neighborhood) to cleanse the soil and taught the kids and their parents how to be gardeners. Today, the city, tomorrow the world! 

Children can see the importance of eating fresh, and growing their own vegetables. Allen shows that you don't need a large garden, that you can grow in pots on the balcony or anywhere. I hope this biography is inspirational, it's short but full of useful information. An elementary science class learning about soil and plants could benefit from this book.

Lisa Librarian