Today, I decided to take a short break from our bimonthly theme, Girl Power and Women’s Wiles. My featured post for Nonfiction Monday is Gathering Books’ extended celebration for Earth Day weekend. Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Books4Learning. Visit their website for the roundup post.
A seed is sleepy.
It lies there, tucked inside its flower,
on its cone, or beneath the soil. Snug. Still.
I picked up this book from the library an hour ago. I’ve always been fond of picture book biographies, and I have a bunch waiting on my shelf. However, I wanted to feature something different for Nonfiction Monday, something I haven’t fully explored yet. Earth Day weekend has just passed (although, technically, it’s still April 22nd in my part of the world). I still have the excitement brought about by Stella and Sam in my most recent Perfect Picture Book Friday post. So I thought, why not feature something nature-related? Just for kicks. See if I could find a good book to feature. Then I discovered this: A Seed is Sleepy written by Dianna Hutts Aston and illustrated by Sylvia Long.
A spread featuring the various seeds in the book... and more.
A Seed is Sleepy is one of the most charming nonfiction picture books I’ve read – and it’s not even a picture book biography! Dianna Hutts Aston’s lyrical storytelling and Sylvia Long’s bright and detailed illustrations of seeds and plants had me sold on this book. Seeds are personified in the book, each page featuring a certain ‘characteristic.’ Along with it is a brief description or trivia about seeds accompanied by illustrations done in watercolor.
I love comparative tables!
Highly informative, both kids and adults would learn a lot from the book. A Seed is Sleepy appeals to young readers, in particular, because it strays away from straightforward, “did-you-know” type of narrative found in some nonfiction books. The poetic nature of Aston’s storytelling makes you feel like you’re reading a magical story of a seed, taking a peek in its daily life, and sharing its journey.
My favorite spread in the book.
A seed is inventive.
To find a spot to grow,
a seed might leap from its pod,or cling to a
child’s shoestring,or tumble through
a bear’s belly.A seed hopes to land where
there is plenty of
sunlight, soil, and water.
If you’re looking for an informative book about nature, I highly recommend this piece of art. It’s a great way to introduce children to a variety of seeds and tidbits about plants and nature. Will definitely add this to my picture book collection.
About the Author and Illustrator
(Taken from the back flap of the book)
Dianna Hutts Aston spends a lot of time in her backyard investigating seeds. She often enlists the help of her children, James and Elizabeth. She lives in Texas. Her previous books include An Egg is Quiet; When You Were Born; Loony Little; Bless This Mouse; and Mama Outside, Mama Inside. To learn more about her, please visit her website.
Sylvia Long is the illustrator many best-selling books for children. Ms. Long’s detailed paintings are inspired by her love of animals and the outdoors. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her previous books include Sylvia Long’s Mother Goose, Snug as a Bug, and An Egg is Quiet. For more information about her, you may stop by her website.
Winner, 2007 Growing Good Kids,
Excellence in Children’s Literature Award
(Junior Master Gardener & America Horticultural Society)
AWB Reading Challenge Update: 39 (35)
Picture Book Challenge Update: 51 of 120
I need to find this one to read. I love Sylvia Long’s work, especially An Egg is Quiet. Thanks for linking up your post and participating in the challenge.
Thanks alybee930!!
When I read this picture book, I was like, “Where on earth have I been?” Their collaboration is wondeful! I am intrigued by An Egg is Quiet, and would also like to read Dianna Hutts Aston’s A Butterfly is Patient. 
Oh want a GREAT Earth Day celebration book! I love all these creative adjective and lyrical descriptions of seeds. the glimpses you give us of the pages make me want to pore over them. I’d love to read this.
Oh my dear Joanna! I do urge you to check your local library for a copy of this book. It is a gem. It made me appreciate seeds more. The illustrations I shared here are just a few of the ‘elegant designs’ found in the book. Truly wonderful!
This looks like you learn a lot from the book AND it is a nice read
Thanks for sharing it!
Hi Erik! Do you like learning? Do you like science? Do you like nature? If you answer YES to these questions, then you will find this book delightful – and insightful! Hope you find a copy!
Hi! My kids and I love this “series” of books! A Seed is Sleepy, An Egg is Quiet, and A Butterfly is Patient. I’m glad you liked it!
Hello Debbie! This was such a random find, and I am so happy I discovered the work of Dianna Hutts Aston and the artworks of Sylvia Long. I can’t wait to find out if my library has a copy of An Egg is Quiet. Thank you for dropping by!
These books are just gorgeous, Fats. We have them in our school library for all who are studying about nature-related topics. Thanks for sharing about this one. An Egg Is Quiet is also wonderful.
Hi Linda! I love how you described it just as I saw it while I was reading the book and looking at the illustrations. There is always something magical about personifying an object. A seed is certainly one you wouldn’t expect would “fit” into such “personalities” as described in the book. I’d love to own copies of these books!
Wow, this one looks like a winner! Now I need to find this gorgeous book…..and I love the engaging layout, too.
It’s a wonderful read, Tara. Great to share with students.
Thanks for participating in nonfiction Monday. This book is great! I read it last year.
It sure is! So glad I discovered it. Thanks for hosting NFM this week!
[...] Fu by Emily Arnold McCully Just Being Audrey by Margaret Cardillo and Illustrations by Julia Denos A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston and illustrated by Sylvia Long Lives of Extraordinary Women: Rulers, Rebels, and what the Neighbors Thought by Kathleen Krull and [...]