And Then the Seed Grew

In this charming tale, readers are introduced to various characters both underground and aboveground. Everyone is satisfied and going about its day-to-day lives until, one day, a teeny seed falls from the sky and causes tremendous changes for these creatures. Slowly but surely the seed begins to grow, and so do the repercussions.

The two-page spread illustrations are detailed, yet remarkably simple. Young readers are bound to notice the abundance of relatively minuscule illustrations that are not mentioned anywhere in the text of the story. For example, there are pebbles, a pencil, metal key, dog bone, and small diamond that remain in the exact same spot underground on each page while the underground homes change significantly as the roots of the plant continue to grow and wreak havoc. With the majority of the page being lightly textured brown soil or blended blue sky, the repetition of the objects almost turns the book into a game of I-Spy.

As a teacher, I have appreciation for the fact that this book is equally as much fun as it is educational. Not only do children learn about plant growth, but they also learn about the effects plants can have on other living things. Although this story contains adorable anthropomorphic characters with sweet, cozy homes underground, it helps children to realize that living things do exist underground and that they are indeed impacted by events beginning aboveground. It illustrates the plant cycle as well as the adaptations of living organisms within that particular ecosystem. The pursuit of environmental sustainability is also highlighted in the text by little Jack (surely inspired by Jack and the Beanstalk in his pea-looking costume) who dissuades the others from cutting down the established plant. Rather, Jack educates the others in the story, as well as the audience, by listing the many benefits of the plant (which turned out to be a tomato plant): it provides shade; it’s a fun place for mice to climb; it provides an aerial view of the land for ants who are looking to map out the garden; and, of course, there’s the fruit that it bears! This leads to yet another possible teaching moment: tomatoes are a type of fruit! Why? Well, that all stems back to its seeds…of course.

Marianne Dubuc does an excellent job packing in loads of humour, entertainment, and learning into this short children’s picture book. There is such an immense amount of clever details and hidden clues in this story that it is worth reading multiple times to see what else there is to discover that may have been previously missed. Also, Dubuc ends the story with a cliff-hanger – three new seeds fall from the sky! This happening provides an opportunity to research what types of plants these seeds will bear and possibly even inspire young readers to write their own extension of what comes next (teachers: take note!).