Review: Grow! Raise! Catch!

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge 2016 is a weekly celebration of imaginative children’s nonfiction materials hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy.

My partner and I went to our local summer fair over the weekend, and one of the exhibits was an indoor kitchen garden showcasing some of the more common herbs and veggies available in grocery stores and farmers markets. Some of the plants I’d seen before, but some of them were (somewhat embarrassingly) entirely new to me! Like many life-long city-slickers, I buy most of my food prepackaged from the grocery store, and rarely see fruits and veggies in their natural environment.

Grow! Raise! Catch! : How We Get Our Food aims to introduce children to the farm-to-table movement, and help raise awareness of where our food actually comes from, and what goes into producing the foods we so often take for granted.

Bright, beautiful pictures take children through the processes involved in growing, raising, catching and producing different fruits and veggies, meat and fish, and grains. A diverse cast of children and adults are shown working in different environments and happily enjoying the fruits of their labour. This is a beautiful, eye-catching introduction to food production awareness and healthy, earth-friendly consumption.

Studies have shown that when children are involved in growing and raising their food, and have a better understanding of where their food comes from, they are more likely to make healthy eating choices and develop healthier food habits. Not every family has access to a community garden or backyard, and not every school has a gardening program, but every school can have access to great books like this that encourage children to be better aware of the work that goes into making the foods they enjoy.

All in all, a beautiful title to share with young children to help start conversations about how we can keep ourselves, and our planet, healthier and happier.