What kinds of seeds are these?

Urban kids may not understand the relationship between plants and trees and the seeds from which they spring. This picture book presents that botanical process through a rhyming, riddle-style text and crisp, colorful paintings. The text is catchy (Whirling and twirling, they whif-whuffle down. / These angel-winged seeds will / soon sprout from the ground. ), but children probably won't be able to guess what seeds are being discussed. Fortunately, they don't have to wait long to find the answer; it appears on the facing page or the following pages, along with a picture featuring the full-grown plant or tree. The accompanying text, however, is a bit confusing. It reads, What kind of seed is this? The answer may be a red and silver maple tree seed or a Russian thistle seed but the picture doesn't always show the seed. Still, this inviting book will have lots of use in the classroom. Several simple activities are appended. --Ilene Cooper Copyright 2006 Booklist

K-Gr 2-An interactive guessing game about seeds and the plants they produce. Through rhyming text and clues, Roemer introduces nine different types. Lyrical language and descriptions ("angel-winged" maple seeds, "hitchhiking" burdock burrs, and "wispy-soft" dandelion tufts) paired with lush watercolor paintings perfectly express the natural transformations that take place. The repetitive question "What kind of seed is this?" is answered on the opposite page in bold font. This riddling book will be fun to share one-on-one or in a group setting. Follow-up crafts and activities are appended. A beneficial resource for lessons in nature, science, or even language, this is a fun and useful addition for most collections.-Jennifer Cogan, Bucks County Free Library, Doylestown, PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.