Elinor Wonders Why, Backyard Soup

Elinor is curious about everything, and, by asking questions, making observations, and testing her own ideas, she unravels the mysteries of nature. Ari, Elinor’s friend, is a joker who looks at problems from all sides to help his friends find answers to their problems.

Elinor’s mother has explained to her that plants need sunshine and water to grow. The ground in Elinor’s backyard is squishy from abundant rainfall, and she collects many vegetables.

The next day, Elinor and her family take a trip to Desert Town to visit her grandparents. Along the way, Elinor notices the vegetation changes from big trees and bushes to small plants and spiky plants. Desert Town is very hot, and the ground is dusty. When Elinor goes into her grandparents’ backyard to collect her usual vegetables, she can’t find them and is disappointed. Her Bibi helps her find different vegetables that she has in her backyard. Peppers, beans, squash, and cactus grow there. Elinor learns that these vegetables also make a delicious soup.

The scientific method principles are imbedded in this story. When Elinor arrives at her grandparents’ house, she uses her Observation Skills to note the differences in temperature and the amount of rainfall between her backyard and her grandparents’ backyard. She also notices the differences in the kind of plants that grow in the desert.

At the end of the book is a glossary of terms to help understand desert plants as well as an inset box explaining the term “habitat” and another inset box giving suggestions for “Observations” with specific questions to learn about plants and habitat.

The full-page, full-colour illustrations in cartoon format support the text, and the easy to follow dialogue helps children to understand the differences between two habitats, the desert and a more temperate one.

Young children will enjoy reading Elinor Wonders Why, Backyard Soup or having it read to them.