Author Celia Barker Lottridge • Illustrator Karen Patkau
Fitzhenry & Whiteside 2008
Ages 2-7
First published in 1986 and a staple ever since for parents of preschool children and teachers of primary grades, One Watermelon Seed is presented in a new edition with a bold new cover and brilliant interior art. In this deceptively simple counting book, Max and Josephine tend their garden while readers follow along, counting from one to ten as the garden is planted. Then readers can count in groups of tens as the garden is harvested, while they search through the pictures for the many small animals that are hiding throughout. A concise and clever text introduces color and rhythm, and the illustrations are bright and engaging, making this a perfect counting book for children aged two to seven.
LOOK INSIDE
AWARDS & HONOURS
• Selected for the 2009 ReadNowBC Ready, Set, Learn Program
• Bank Street Books Best Books of the Year for Children and Young Adults 2009
• Toronto Public Library’s First & Best 2008
• Toronto Public Library’s Top Ten Books for Pre-Schoolers
• Resource Links 2008 Year’s Best List
REVIEWS
• “The vibrant colors and close-up views of the produce make it look delicious and irresistible … This appealing book is great for classroom counting and discussions of seasons.” – School Library Journal
• “One Watermelon Seed offers countless (pun intended!) early learning opportunities and is a valuable resource for all school and public library collections.” – Highly Recommended — Canadian Materials
• “Luxuriant illustrations, a counting lesson that goes beyond 1 to 10, and the fun of hunting for hidden creatures: this new edition of One Watermelon Seed is sure to be a hit with both preschoolers and those who read to them.” – ForeWord Magazine
• “First published in 1986, this new, delicious edition with its brightly coloured digital illustrations belongs in the first rank of books of its genre: the counting book.” – The Globe and Mail
• “Lottridge’s text is musical and brief, while Patkau’s illustrations celebrate the abundant colour of a summer garden.” – The Toronto Star
• “As I write this, seeds are beginning to sprout in my own children’s vegetable garden and the excitement of my family is palpable. So, too, is the pleasure in this book, which takes the delight of coaxing food out of the earth and matched it with the thrill of sharing a book with a loved one. … Bright illustrations boost the joy of reading this delightful book.” – Today’s Parent
KAREN PATKAU 