Imagine a career where you get paid to draw all day. That's what botanical illustrators do! Get inside the mind of a botanical illustrator, and learn how their intricate drawings of plants help science. Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, this Smithsonian Informational Text builds students' reading skills while engaging their curiosity about STEAM topics through real-world examples. It features a hands-on STEAM challenge that...

Everybody loves fruit — apples, cherries, tomatoes...Wait, what? Tomatoes are fruit? Yes, they are! Find out how fruits help plants grow and learn about some of the fruits we eat.

Seeds are for planting. Seeds are for eating, too. If you've ever eaten beans or corn, you've eaten seeds. Find out about different kinds of seeds and learn about some of the seeds we eat.

There are many kinds of grass, but when most people think of this green plant, they think of the kind found in backyards and parks. Grass is like many other plants with its roots, leaves, and needs of soil, water, and sun. Young readers find out that acres of grass come from the tiniest of seeds. With this knowledge, they'll never look at someone mowing the lawn in the same way again. Full-color photographs closely correlate with the accessible narrative,...

There are, lots of different kinds of plants. From the grass beneath our feet to the fruits and vegetables we eat, plant life surrounds us. This engaging book gives budding readers a guide to growing plants of their own. Whether planting a vegetable garden or planting flowers, most plants come from tiny seeds. From there, readers learn how to water these seeds and tend to what soon comes out of the ground, learning an essential life process with the...

Nothing says summer like an open sunflower turned toward the sun. These familiar flowers are a great example of how flowering plants grow from seeds with some soil, space, sun, and water. Readers will follow this plant's growth through text with closely correlated photographs, including images of a sunflower sprouting, gaining leaves, budding, and opening to the lovely, friendly flower we know. Age-appropriate detail and vocabulary guide readers just...

The flower is the part of a plant that makes seeds or fruit. Readers will identify the main parts of a flower and learn about the process of pollination. Simple text and supportive photos and diagrams help students comprehend this important science concept.

Leaves come in all shapes and sizes. They make food for the plant. They make food for us, too. Find out how leaves help plants grow and learn about some of the leafy vegetables we eat.

Carrots are a great snack, even though they're a plant root. These bright root vegetables grow underground for months before they become the sweet, crunchy veggie we put on salads and dip in hummus. Young readers follow along as carrot seeds are planted in soil, watered, and exposed to the sun, and as they grow into orange, yellow, purple, and white veggies. Age-appropriate detail and vocabulary guide readers just beginning to read independently....

Different kinds of plants have different kinds of stems. Daisies have thin stems, while redwood trees have thick, woody stems. What do these stems do? Readers discover the answer with the help of clear, age-appropriate text that supports common science curriculum topics. Colorful diagrams enhance the main text, helping young readers visualize the concepts they are reading about. Detailed photographs of a variety of plants and their stems provide an...