I Ate Sunshine for Breakfast

by Michael Holland (Author) Phillip Giordano (Illustrator)

I Ate Sunshine for Breakfast
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Did you know that the rubber in your shoes came from a tree? Ever wondered where your breakfast cereal is grown? Have you remembered to thank a bee today for the food you ate for dinner last night?

Get ready to learn everything you never knew about plants and then some! This illustrated compendium celebrates the plants you didn't even know you used, from your toothpaste to your car tires to the name of your great-great-aunt. This comprehensive overview also contains great plant projects you and your friends can try at home!
Select format:
Hardcover
$19.95

Kirkus

Science enthusiasts especially will want to plant themselves in this one.

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4--Plants are covered in detail in this comprehensive survey of the kingdom of flora. Bold and colorful illustrations enhance the extensive facts and concepts which are presented in accessible language. The four primary sections feature information on the structure and importance of plants; evolution and adaptation in a variety of environments; the daily use of plants in our life; and the power of plants in technology, medicine and the future of our planet. It is emphasized that many things, from toothpaste to disease-curing medications, clothing, paper, the homes we live in, and the air we breathe, all depend on a healthy relationship between people and plants. Charts, sidebars, and an extensive glossary help convey information. DIY projects offer step-by-step instruction and encourage readers to become familiar with the concepts mentioned. However, some of the projects may not always be successful. Putting potato peelings into soil will not always produce a potato plant. And chestnuts attached to strings and swung wildly may result in injury. This visually appealing work will benefit the classroom study of the biology and importance of plants. VERDICT Packed with highly appealing visuals and interesting information, this is a beneficial addition to elementary nature and environment collections.--Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, NY

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Winner of the 2021 Northern Lights Book Awards STEAM Category

"This fact-filled, dazzlingly colorful compendium will teach budding naturalists plenty they never knew about the world's leafy wonders [...] This will work well as a title for browsing and classroom support. Science enthusiasts especially will want to plant themselves in this one."
Kirkus Reviews

"An attractive, cute, fact-filled nonfiction book that belongs in every elementary and middle school library. I'm so excited to add it to my collection! With DIY projects related to plants, gorgeous color illustrations, and adorable critters on every page, this book will be a hit with budding naturalists."
Youth Services Book Review

"I am totally crushing hard on this upcoming release and I'm so excited to share it! It is a hefty, nonfiction book that is packed with fascinating information about plants and I've really enjoyed the tidbits I have already learned from it. Plus, the bold and bright design is stunning and the cover is even textured (a small detail, but one that always makes my heart skip a beat). This one is also perfect for Spring!"
—Book Nerd Mommy

This book is amazing! It covers in-depth all sorts of plants and how we are surrounded by the things they make (edible and non-edible) all the time! Interspersed throughout the book are also activities and projects that can be undertaken by the reader. Incredibly detailed, the book breaks down into section different topics like pollination, living fossils, plant parts, and soooo much more!
The Tiny Activist

"This book is not just a children's book, it's for anyone who loves the world of plants."
—Poppies Red Balloons

"A celebration and exploration of all things plants, habitats, adaptations and more."
—Dr. Jo Science

This gorgeous and informative nonfiction science text celebrates plants and explains how, why, and where they function.
—Tons of Books and Bottles

"This book is pretty thick, but it is seriously PACKED with information...there are tons of others activities scattered between each chapter in this vibrantly illustrated beauty, too!"
—Oh, The Books We Love!

"A one-stop-shop for everything plant-related."
—Houston Library Finds

What nonfiction dreams are made of."
—Books Grow Minds

"A great place to start for adults looking to make sustainable changes to help restore and prevent more damage to our home."
—Burgess Bookshelf

Michael Holland
Michael Holland is Head of Education at Chelsea Physic Garden. He is also a photographer, compost nerd, and wildlife
gardener.

Philip Giordano is an Italian illustrator born in a small coastal town in Liguria, of Philippine and Swiss descent. He attended the Brera Fine Arts Academy in Milan, the IED (European Institute of Design) and subsequently gained a Masters in Animation Techniques in Turin.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781912497744
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Nobrow Press
Publication date
March 18, 2020
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF051100 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Environmental Science & Ecosystems
JNF051110 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Experiments & Projects
JNF037030 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Flowers & Plants
Library of Congress categories
Plants

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