Let's Pop, Pop, Popcorn!

In energetic rhymes and onomatopoeic text, debut author Schumerth details popcorn's journey from seed to snack. As the pages turn, an inclusive group of children prepare the soil and tend the sprouts ("Dig the ground up with a hoe./ Plant the seeds and hope they grow"); watch for growing stalks ("Ears sprout hair that's fuzzy red"); harvest, shuck, and dry ears of corn; and at last pop the resultant kernels into their final delicious form. Vibrant unlined illustrations by Uhles make use of textural close-ups to show the children invested at every stage of the plant's journey; one spread includes a kid's-eye view of weeding. Though a smattering of scientific words sometimes slows the text's otherwise steady rhythm ("Not strong enough to hold this load.../ The shells (called pericarps) explode"), Schumerth and Uhles offer a lively introduction to the science behind a favorite munchable. Back matter includes more information about why popcorn pops, along with a popcorn-related science project and craft. Ages 6-7. (Mar.)

K-Gr 2--Popcorn is often one of life's great mysteries when you are very young. This book helps kids understand where popcorn comes from and how it explodes into being, all the way from planting seeds to enjoying a bowlful. The rhyming text is short and harder words (e.g., pericarps) are featured in bold and explained, and are included in the back matter as well. The illustrations feature an inclusive group of young children learning to make popcorn. The drawings are colorful and usually include fun perspective shots of the children and the popcorn. This book also includes activities in the back. These activities include growing your own popcorn and creating your own "popcorn sheep." The back matter also features a page that goes a little more in-depth scientifically on how popcorn is made, with photos of an actual kernel of popcorn in stages of popping. VERDICT A perfect book to expand nonfiction story times.--Kristin Joy Anderson, Lewis Univ., Romeoville, IL