Reading/Interest Level: Preschool
Author: Kadir Nelson
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
A rabbit and a mouse plant carrot seeds, tomato seeds, and cabbage seeds, but when the plants have grown the birds want some too! They learn that if they plant a seed of selfishness that it will grow and make them unhappy, but if they plant a seed of kindness that will grow into something sweet. When they decide to share with the birds, they all begin to help each other and the garden grows to be very large and fruitful.
The positive message in this book about how everyone is happier when we are kind to one another is great. The oil paint illustrations are stunning and very expressive of what the animals are feelings, often without complementary narration (with powerful effects). Overall, a very well-crafted book.