Corn [Hardcover]

Gail Gibbons (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2008 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Perennial nonfiction favourite Gail Gibbons turns her spotlight on corn. Popcorn, corn on the cob, corn dogs, cornflakes--corn is used in many children's favorite foods. This book offers a cornucopia of information about the history of corn as well as details concerning planting, cultivation, harvesting, and its many uses.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1–4—Gibbons offers myriad facts about corn, from the most basic to the more complex process of how kernels are actually formed. The colorful watercolors are sure to attract the attention of even the most reluctant readers. The author explains the importance of the crop to the ancient Mayans and to the Pilgrims, as well as the many products derived from it today. Various spreads are devoted to types of corn, and to planting, pollinating, and harvesting it. Colorful, often humorous pictures show an assortment of people enjoying corn in its many different forms and the equipment used to produce it. A simple, yet informative and engaging look at an important food source.—Anne L. Tormohlen, Deerfield Elementary School, Lawrence, KS
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Starting historically with South American civilizations and highlighting the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving, this illustrated introduction covers the various types and varieties of corn and their specific uses. Explanations and diagrams of pollination, planting, and harvesting show both backyard and industrial cultivation. A wide-ranging list of corn products and miscellaneous facts are appended. Written for a similar audience as Aliki’s Corn Is Maize (1975), this discussion includes newer products such as ethanol and biodegradable plastics that are impacting people’s lives. With her characteristic ink and watercolor illustrations and well-organized, accessible narrative, Gibbons has created another competent and useful introduction to a familiar product for primary classrooms. Grades K-3. --Linda Perkins

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (September 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823421694
• ISBN-13: 978-0823421695
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,422,006 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gail Gibbons has published close to fifty distinguished nonfiction titles with Holiday House. According to "The Washington Post," "Gail Gibbons has taught more preschoolers and early readers about the world than any other children's writer-illustrator." She lives in Vermont. Her website is www.gailgibbons.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children, September 1, 2008

By 

Yana V. Rodgers "econkids.rutgers.edu" (New Brunswick, NJ) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Corn (Hardcover)

Gail Gibbons has done it again, this time providing an interesting and substantive contribution to children's non-fiction literature that focuses on corn. The central theme of the book revolves around the four main types of corn (sweet corn, popcorn, flint corn, and dent corn) and how people have put them to use as food sources, animal feeds, fuel, and as additives to other products we do not commonly associate with corn. The book also informs readers of the long history behind corn cultivation, the machines that are used to plant and harvest corn, and the process underlying the growth and pollination of corn. Corn gives teachers and parents a new option for teaching children about natural resources and capital resources. Kids who may not think twice about food items they eat almost every day are bound to learn something new and exciting.

5.0 out of 5 stars This book about corn is charming, colorful and very informative!, October 14, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Corn (Paperback)

When you go to the gas station have you ever noticed a little sign that tells you that your gas has something called ethanol in it? Some of it is made from corn of all things. Of course you know about corn on the cob, canned corn, popcorn, corn oil and corn muffins, but there are many products you might not ever suspect they had corn in them. For example corn can be found in medicine, jams and jellies, paper products, glue, soap and fruit drinks. Hey, corn is a vegetable, not a fruit!

In this book we find out all about the history of corn (called maize by the native peoples of Mexico and Central America), the names of the parts of a corn plant, the different types of corn, their uses, planting and harvesting of the corn crop and its many uses. And, as many of us know, "corn can also be nutritious and delicious."

I haven't met a Gail Gibbons book that hasn't been colorful and charming, to say nothing of informative. Even the reluctant reader will enjoy reading the text and poring over the busy art work. In the back of the book there are additional corn facts. Gee whiz . . . I didn't know that there are usually about 800 kernels in a corn cob!

5.0 out of 5 stars I learned so much!, October 10, 2009

By 

Irene in Boston - See all my reviews

This review is from: Corn (Paperback)

I read this book with my 4-year-old daughter, and she loved learning about all the different kinds of corns other than the sweet corn that we eat. The illustrations are great, and she liked to pick her own "favorite" corn of each type, based on its shape and colors. My husband and I were floored, too, when we ourselves learned about how each kernel grows on the cob. Fascinating!!

This is our first Gail Gibbons book, and it has inspired us to check out more of her books at the library.

My only complaint is that the book says some corn is made into "silage", but it doesn't define the word. If 1/2 stars were possible, I'd have given it 4 1/2 stars based on that lack of explanation, but since it's not possible, it still leans more towards 5 stars than 4.