Growing Good Kids Honors First Peas to the Table!

Wonderful news!

First Peas to the Table by Susan Grigsby, published by Albert Whitman & Co.m was selected as one of the 2013 Growing Good Kids - Excellence in Children's Literature Award Winners!

This book awards program was established to recognize and build awareness of picture books that effectively promote an understanding of and appreciation for gardening/plants and the environment. Through engaging story, illustration and design, First Peas to the Table was designated by our book awards committee as exemplifying excellence in this aim.

Thanks, Growing Good Kids!

The Making of - First Peas to the Table

Here's a sneak peek behind-the-scenes of the making of this book:

Mrs. Barhoff's 4th grade class graciously modeled for me! Here, I asked them to pretend I wasn't there.

Rough sketch of the cover

Rough sketch of my favorite page

My first pea seedling!

More seedlings, planted on different days.

Here's where I fell in love with bright pink and yellow

First Peas to the Table - Reviews

"History, science and a guidance lesson all rolled into one, this could surely be the spark for many a school garden." Kirkus Reviews

"This beautifully illustrated story has a mixture of both fiction and facts about the life cycle of peas....Teachers will find a multitude of ways to use this book and this team's In the Garden with Dr. Carver." School Library Journal

"The first-person narrative relates events and Maya's changing perspective in a believably childlike voice, while the pencil-and-watercolor illustrations capture the story's tone as well as the characters' emotions." Booklist

 "This picture book seamlessly meshes together a little science, a little history, and a strong storyline." Library Media Connection

And the wonderful Jama Rattigan gave space on her blog for this review.