A Seed is the Start

A Seed is the Start 
by Melissa Stewart
National Geographic Kids, 2018
Preschool-Grade 3
978-1-4263-2978-4


Melissa Stewart's new nonfiction book about seeds hits all the right notes. Upon opening A Seed Is the Start, readers are introduced to important vocabulary words related to the topic. Each two-page spread has large yellow and white headings that introduce the concept. Paragraphs of expository text provide readers with key details about how seeds travel and grow. Close-up photographs accompany the text and show burrs, nuts, seeds, pods and berries in nature. One impressive photograph near the beginning of the book illustrates the stages of a corn seed growing into a plant. Captions describe each stage of the growth process.

A Seed Is the Start is a highly recommended purchase for school libraries, classrooms and public libraries. It could be read as part of a plant unit in an elementary classroom and could be used for science programming and story time in a public library. Publishers and authors of nonfiction should take note of A Seed Is the Start as an example of excellent book design, layout, visuals, and quality science writing aimed at very young readers. Visit Melissa Stewart's website to read notes about A Seed Is the Start.