Aston, Dianna Hutts. Illustrated by Sylvia Long. A SEED IS SLEEPY.

This beautifully illustrated picture book begs to be read aloud. Each two-page spread details one basic attribute of seeds in a playful and memorable way.

Back, Christine. BEAN AND PLANT.

Follows the development of a bean plant from the emergence of the first tiny shoot to the appearance of flowers and bean pods.

Bash, Barbara. ANCIENT ONES: THE WORLD OF THE OLD-GROWTH DOUGLAS FIR.

Vivid paintings explore life in the Pacific Northwest’s old-growth forests, from flying squirrels all the way down to nematode worms and velvet mites.

Bial, Raymond. A HANDFUL OF DIRT.

What is soil? Is it just dirt? How does it feed plants and support animal life? Bright illustrations and vivid text bring this subject home for school-age children.

Buczacki, Stefan; Buczacki, Beverley. YOUNG GARDENER.

An illustrated gardening book aimed at kids. Chapters are arranged by season.

Bunting, Eve. SUNFLOWER HOUSE.

A young boy creates a summer playhouse by planting sunflowers and saves the seeds to make another house the next year. A prizewinning book for the 8-and-under set.

Burnie, David. FLOWERS.

An excerpt from the Eyewitness book, PLANT. Beautiful photographs and illustrations portray various aspects of flowers.  Includes the world's largest flower, the rafflesia.

Burnie, David. PLANT.

One in the series of Eyewitness books, best for upper elementary.  Detailed photographs and text work together to explain plant anatomy, how plants form seeds, make food, defend themselves, and adapt to challenging climates.

Burns, Diane L. Illustrated by John F. McGee. YOUNG NATURALIST FIELD GUIDES:

BERRIES, NUTS, AND SEEDS. This detailed guide tells curious kids “what it looks like,” “where to find it,” and “what eats it.”

Canizares, Susan. EVERGREENS ARE GREEN.

This little book, beautifully photographed, contrasts evergreens with their deciduous counterparts throughout the year.

Carle, Eric. THE TINY SEED.

Bold collage illustrations and simple descriptions of a flowering plant's life cycle make this an ideal read-aloud book for preschoolers and school-age children.

Cherry, Lynne. HOW GROUNDHOG’S GARDEN GREW.

Squirrel teaches Little Groundhog how to plant and tend his own vegetable garden.

Cooney, Barbara. MISS RUMPHIUS.

As a child, Great-aunt Alice Rumphius resolved that when she grew up she would go to faraway places, live by the sea in her old age, and do something to make the world more beautiful--and she does all those things, the last being the most difficult of all. This one is a modern classic!

Cox, Rosamund; Cork, Barbara. FLOWERS.

An excerpt from the Usborne First Book of Nature describes different flower types and how they work to make seeds. The colorful pictures make flower anatomy fun to learn.

Coy, John. Illustrated by Carolyn Fisher. TWO OLD POTATOES AND ME.

The girl in this story learns how to grow new potatoes from old potatoes with her father, even though she can’t be with him every day.

Davis, Wendy. DOUGLAS FIR.

The ecology of the Pacific Northwest’s old growth Douglas fir forests is beautifully detailed in this illustrated book for beginning readers. Pictures of the animals that need this habitat take center stage

Dorros, Arthur. A TREE IS GROWING.

Clear, detailed text and big, beautiful pictures explain the life cycle and importance of trees. Numerous illustrations of various tree species, their leaves, seeds, flowers and cones.

Dowden, Anne Ophelia. FROM FLOWER TO FRUIT.

Gorgeous botanical illustrations and clear text explain how seeds form.

Dowden, Anne Ophelia. LOOK AT A FLOWER.

Plant anatomy presented in great detail with clarity, including information to help kids

distinguish plant families.

Eclare, Melanie. A HARVEST OF COLOR: GROWING A VEGETABLE GARDEN.

Beautiful photographs and clear text in the children’s own words will inspire children to plant their own vegetables.

Ehlert, Lois. LEAF MAN.

Follow the irresistible Leaf Man on his journey through fall. The illustrations are created with real leaves.  Good inspiration for fall leaf art projects.

Ehlert, Lois. PLANTING A RAINBOW.

For the younger child, a story of planting seeds, plants, and bulbs and watching them grow into colorful flowers. Told in few words with lively, bold illustrations.

French, Vivian. Illustrated by Alison Bartlett. OLIVER’S VEGETABLES.

Oliver, who doesn’t eat any vegetable but french fries, visits Grandma and Grandpa’s garden and learns to enjoy the other vegetables growing there.

Heller, Ruth. THE REASON FOR A FLOWER.

Brief text and lavish illustrations explain plant reproduction and the purpose of a flower .

Lauber, Patricia. BE A FRIEND TO TREES.

Part of the Let's-Read-And-Find-Out Science series, this book explains photosynthesis in a simple text with clear line-and-watercolor illustrations.  Lauber goes on to show that trees are also something we can't live without and how we can be a friend to a tree.

Lelooska (Chief Don Lelooska Smith). SPIRIT OF THE CEDAR PEOPLE: MORE STORIES AND PAINTINGS OF CHIEF LELOOSKA.

This dramatically illustrated, large-format book contains five tales of the Kwakiutlpeople. On the CD inside you’ll here Chief Lelooska himself telling the tales and performing traditional chants and drum rhythms.

Levenson, George. PUMPKIN CIRCLE: THE STORY OF A GARDEN.

Rhyming text and photographs follow a pumpkin patch as it grows and changes, from seeds to plants to pumpkins ready to harvest, to jack-o-lanterns and then to seeds again.

Levine, Arthur A. PEARL MOSCOWITZ’S LAST STAND.

An endearing tale of a heroic woman who saves an old tree from destruction with generosity, neighborliness, courage, and good cooking.

Lovejoy, Sharon. ROOTS SHOOTS BUCKETS & BOOTS.

12 spirited, easy-to-implement ideas for theme gardens that parents and children can enjoy together including container gardens, moon gardens, and pizza gardens.

Maestro, Betsy. Illustrated by Loretta Krupinski. WHY DO LEAVES CHANGE COLOR?

Bright paintings and clear text make this a standout among books on the fascinating subject of fall color.

Singh, Rina. A FOREST OF STORIES: MAGICAL TREE TALES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

Colorful illustrations enliven this storybook, which includes tales from China, Guatemala, Japan, India, Nigeria, Israel, and Morocco about the importance of trees.

Stewart, Sarah; Small, David. THE GARDENER.

A series of letters relating what happens when, after her father loses his job, Lydia Grace goes to live with her Uncle Jim in the city but takes her love for gardening with her.

Wallace, Karen. SCARLETTE BEANE.

Funny, spunky Scarlette Beane gets more than she bargained for when she plants her own vegetables. They grow so large she has to invite the whole neighborhood over to eat them all.