Jody's Beans (Read and Wonder). This item is unavailable.Jody's Beans (Read and Wonder)

From spring to fall with the help of her grandfather, Jody learns to plant, care for, harvest, prepare, and eat some runner beans, in a gentle story about the cycle of life.

PreSchool-Grade 2When Jodys Granda comes to visit, he brings some seeds, which the two plant together. Each step of the growth and care of the scarlet runner beans is described throughout the spring, summer, and fall, as Granda visits or telephones with helpful information and encouragement. Whenever Jody asks what will happen, he says, Wait and see. Under the girls watchful eye, the plants grow tall, flower, produce edible beans, and, finally, provide seeds for next year. At the same time, seen mostly through the illustrations, Jodys mothers pregnancy progresses and by harvest time theres a new baby. However, the focus of the story remains on growing scarlet runner beans. The process is clearly described, and an index refers readers back to particular topics, such as pinching back or staking seedlings. The detailed ink-and-watercolor illustrations show many aspects of the plants and also of the relationship between Jody and her grandfather.Carolyn Jenks, First Parish Unitarian Church, Portland, ME
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This smart little story from Doyle, about growing a tepee of runner beans, can be extended to take in the big canvaslife itselfbut its charm resides in the focus on a singular natural event. Jody and her grandfather prepare a patch of earth for some bean seeds. He comes back for intermittent visits, but it is up to Jody to tend the beans and report back to him by phone. Granda offers a measure of advice, but doesn't pile on the directions, allowing Jody to exercise her powers of observation and gathering experience to get it right. Her attentiveness leads to great pleasure in the growth of the vines, the red flowers, the beans themselves (`` `Oh,' said Jody. `I didn't know we were going to eat them' ''). Meanwhile, Jody's mother is growing larger with pregnancy, but that subplot resides mostly in the illustrations. Come autumn, the big beans on the top of the tepee yield a surprise. The story resembles a fine reduction sauce, as Doyle's imagery and newcomer Allibone's delicate, framed watercolors yield a rich, concentrated delight. (Picture book. 3-6) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.