*If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson

if you plant a seed

*If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson. Blazer + Bray, 2015. 32 pages.

Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 0-4

Recommended For: Ages 0-8

If you plant a tomato seed, a carrot seed, and a cabbage seed, in time, with love and care, tomato, carrot, and cabbage plants will grow.

What if you plant seeds of selfishness or kindness? A bunny and a mouse must reckon with neighboring birds and other woodland creatures when they plant their vegetable garden. Nelson’s spare text tells a simple tale of reaping what you sow. Vibrant, colorful, full page paintings embellish this proverb with humor, action, and depth. Young readers may guess what is coming, but they will be delighted with Nelson’s use of perspective, the pace of the story, and the added details in the illustrations. Reaping what we sow is a biblical principle, to be sure, but thankfully our Lord is also merciful to us while we are still sinners!

Cautions: none

Overall Rating: 5

  • Worldview Rating: 5
  • Artistic Rating: 5

Categories: Picture Books, Starred Review, 4 stars and up, Character Values, Animal Stories

*indicates a starred review

cover image from amazon

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Betsy Farquhar

Betsy is the Managing Editor at Redeemed Reader. When she reads ahead for you, she uses sticky notes instead of book darts and willfully dog ears pages even in library books. Betsy is a fan of George MacDonald, robust book discussions, and the Oxford comma. She lives with her husband and their three children in the beautiful Southeast.

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