Plant a Seed, Read! - Summer Reading List for Tweens
Our theme this year is Plant a Seed, Read! which is rooted in the farm-to-table concept. A farm grows food that nourishes our bodies; a library grows ideas that nourish our minds. Both food and stories connect us to our family, culture, economy, and ecology. Join us for activities, programs, prizes, and, of course, reading throughout the challenge!
These tween books are sure to get you wanting to explore the great outdoors, while out there, try visiting a Minnesota State Park by using one of our passes!
Author(s):
James, Anna (Anna Lois)
Guadalupi, Marco,
Description:
With his Uncle Horatio trapped in an enchanted sleep by the power-hungry Alchemist, Milo sets off with Alessia to find a cure with the help of the Botanist, and in their hunt for an antidote, they must forage in the Secret Garden, challenge Robin Hood, and confront the mighty Jabberwock.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J FIC Jam
Author(s):
Messner, Kate
Ross, Heather,
Description:
Fergus and Zeke love being the class pets in Miss Maxwell's class, and they do everything the students do. So when Miss Maxwell tells the class they're going on a field trip to a local farm to help with the farm animals, pick apples, and learn about where food comes from, Fergus and Zeke make a plan to sneak their way onto the trip. It's busy harvest time on the farm, and before they know it, Fergus and Zeke are separated from the class and running from one sticky situation to another, annoying plenty of hens, goats, and sheep along the way. Will they manage to make it back to Miss Maxwell's class before the buss leaves for home, or will they be stuck on the farm for good?
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J FIC Mes
Author(s):
Zimmermann, Laura K.
Green, Jamie
Description:
"Through lyrical text and colorful detailed artwork, the mysterious and sometimes bizarre world of mushrooms is explored. Back matter includes a glossary and science facts"--
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J 579.6 Zim
Author(s):
Yolen, Jane
DePaola, Tomie,
Description:
A group of distinctly different giants have problems to solve when they decide to live together on a farm.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J FIC Yol
Author(s):
Higgins, Cam
Landy, Ariel,
Description:
Rambunctious puppy Bo, who lives with his human family on a farm, loses his dog tag and enlists his barnyard animal friends to help him find it. --
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J FIC Hig
Author(s):
Martin, Jacqueline Briggs
Man One
Description:
Describes the popular street cook's life, including working in his family's restaurant as a child, figuring out what he wanted to do with his life, and his success with his food truck and restaurant.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
JB Cho
Author(s):
Ross, Michael Elsohn, 1952-
Description:
Nature enthusiasts will learn facts about plants in this colorful, interactive resource. Plantology contains discussions and activities to explore many topics from seeds, roots, and sprouts to plant skeletons, leaves, petals, and fruits. It then goes beyond the basics to delve into the unknown world of common weeds, fascinating plant defense systems, and the countless roles plants play in our lives. Kids can participate in 30 hands-on activities that promote observation and analysis, writing and drawing, math and science, and nature literacy skills. Children will keep a journal, examine and sketch plant structures, start a seed collection, make tasty vegetarian dishes, and more.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J 581 Ros
Author(s):
Knisley, Lucy
Cogar, Whitney,
Description:
"Jen moves out to the country and has to put up with her mom and her mom's new boyfriend, as well as his kids. Suddenly part of a larger family in a new place, Jen isn't sure there is a place for her in this different world."--
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J FIC Kni
Author(s):
Zommer, Yuval
Winsor, Lauren,
Description:
Drawing on Zommer's years of experience running art workshops for children, The Big Book of Nature Art includes his tips for stress-free ways to get creative with kids. Each nature art activity requires no more than five minutes set-up and five minutes clean-up, making them easy to achieve and fun for everyone involved. The book also encourages children to see the creative potential in the natural and everyday treasures all around us, from twigs, seed pods, petals and leaves through to loo rolls, pencil shavings, takeaway cutlery and kitchen string. Little nature artists will enjoy making paper-plate birds; leaf bugs; coffee-cup owls; tree bark bats; and seed pod creepy crawlies, as well as scenes for their creatures to dwell in, from watery worlds to underground tunnels.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J 745.5 Zom
Author(s):
Description:
"Never having met a plant that wouldn't bloom or bud for her, thirteen-year-old Persephone, whose brother has an irreversible brain injury, finds the only thing growing are the lies and secrets she's been keeping to save her family . . . With the help of unexpected allies including a wonderful but peculiar old woman and her possibly magical cat, Persephone learns that while planting the seeds of truth is never easy, everything blooms when it's ready"--Publisher.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J FIC Hau
Author(s):
Chmielewski, Gary, 1949-
Caputo, Jim,
Description:
"Book contains 100 food-themed jokes, tongue twisters and "Daffynitions". Backmatter includes creative writing information and exercises written by a former Harvard University Early Literacy professor. After completing the exercises, the reader is encouraged to write their own jokes and submit them for future Funny Zone titles. Full-color illustartions throughout"--Provided by publisher.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J 818.54 Chm
Author(s):
Meyerhoff, Jenny
Chatelain, Éva,
Description:
Third-grader Anna has had trouble making friends since her family moved from a small town in New York to Chicago, but a group project at school leads to new opportunities, including friendships, a club, and a garden she can work in, just like in her last home.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J FIC Mey
Author(s):
Description:
After planting a seed packet in the backyard, things don't go as expected for best friends Anna and Tess. They fall asleep in the sun and wake up to blooms as tall as buildings! Did the seeds really grow that fast? All is explained when Anna and Tess meet May, a little garden gnome whose magic is responsible for the transformation. The girls are May's size now, and they follow her through the flower garden and into May's underground gnome home--discovering new things about their world and themselves along the way.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J FIC Kur
Author(s):
Dougherty, Brandi
Kurilla, Renée,
Description:
"Spring is in the air in Sugar Oak! But before the fairies can smell the flowers, they must plan the biggest party of the year--the Blossom Bash! Normally, Daisy would love leading her fairy friends, but when each of the fairies has a different vision for the bash's decorations, she's left stumped. Thistle wants thistle flowers! Dahlia wants dahlias! And Poppy wants lots of red. Daisy has a difficult decision to make, and with first bloom right around the corner, she better decide fast." -- Page [4] cover.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J FIC Dou
Author(s):
Kimmerer, Robin Wall, 1953-
Neidhardt, Nicole,
Description:
As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowledge together to take us on "a journey that is every bit as mythic as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise."--
Format:
Book
Call Number:
YA 305.8 Kim
Author(s):
Gaines, Joanna, 1978-
Swaney, Julianna,
Description:
Joanna and the kids chronicle the adventures of starting their own family garden. From failed endeavors, obstacles (bunnies that eat everything!), and lessons learned, the Gaines family shares how they grew a happy, successful garden. As it turns out, trying something new isn't always easy, but the hardest work often yields the greatest reward.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J 635 Gai
Author(s):
Dahl, Michael
Yesh, Jeff,
Description:
An easy-to-read collection of riddles about strawberries, alphabet soup, and other foods.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J 818.54 Dah
Author(s):
Havrelock, Deidre
Fuller, Kalila J.,
Description:
"A middle grade survey nonfiction work celebrating North American Indigenous knowledge and Native contributions to contemporary STEM"--
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J 500.89 Hav
Author(s):
Florence, Debbi Michiko
Vukovic, Elizabet,
Description:
On her last stop in Japan, eight-year-old Jasmine cherishes the time spent with her family, and plants a garden to ensure a lasting connection with her Obaachan even after returning home.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J FIC Flo
Author(s):
Harrison, Paula
Løvlie, Jenny,
Description:
Kitty and her feline friends discover a secret roof garden and learn all about plants and gardening.--
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J FIC Har
Author(s):
Description:
"Learn all about forest life, the amazing Venus flytrap, and the importance of conservation in the exciting eighth adventure with The Secret Explorers. This group of brilliant kids come together from all four corners of the globe to fix problems, solve mysteries and gather knowledge all over the planet -- and beyond. Whenever their help is needed, a special sign will appear on a door. They step through to the Exploration Station, and receive their mission... In this installment, Leah the biology expert and Gustavo the history buff are whisked away on a mission to a forest in North Carolina. There, they meet a botanist working to protect the amazing Venus flytrap -- an endangered species of plant -- from being stolen by poachers and sold for money. It'll take every bit of brainpower, bravery, and expertise that Leah and Gustavo have to stop the poachers and rescue the plants. Packed with fun illustrations and facts about plants, forest, wildlife, and the importance of conservation[...]" --
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J FIC Kin
Author(s):
Description:
"Twelve-year-old Henna loves living with her two papas and cultivating her beloved plants on the tiny island of Earth's End--until Papa Niall grows seriously ill. Now Henna is determined to find a legendary, long-extinct plant with miraculous healing powers, even though the search means journeying all the way to St. Basil's Conservatory, a botanical boarding school rumored to house seeds of every plant ever grown. At St. Basil's, Henna is surrounded not only by incredible plants, but also, for the first time, other kids--including her new roommates: wisecracking, genderfluid P, who gleefully bends every rule they come up against, and wealthy, distant Lora, who is tired of servants doing everything for her, from folding her clothes to pushing her wheelchair. But Henna's search for the fabled healing seed means she doesn't have time for friends--or so she thinks. This tender tale, blossoming with moments of joy, is a story of hope, grief, and learning to flourish with a little help from those around you."--Publisher's description.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J FIC Dai
Author(s):
Description:
Eve gave up her belief in stories and magic after her mother's death, but a mysterious seed given her as an eleventh-birthday gift by someone she has never met takes her and a boy who claims to be a ghost on a strange journey, to where their supposedly cursed town of Beaumont, New York, flourishes.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J FIC Goi
Author(s):
Description:
Life is tough at home for Marty, but his eccentric grandad has a plan up his sleeve to give him hope that involves wishes, a pumpkin, and a trip all the way from England to Paris.
Format:
Book
Call Number:
J FIC Lew
