Customer Reviews

Corn

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

As usual Gail Gibbons has written another great non-fiction book for children. I teach Kindergarten and own over 30 of her books. I use them with every theme I teach.

This is a fantastic book, however near the end there is a map showing the states where corn is grown in the US. Missouri is labeled as MS and not MO. Maybe in the next printing that will be fixed.

Corn is an educational children's picturebook packed cover to cover with fascinating and fun facts about corn - from when it was cultivated by the Aztec and Mayan civilizations to how popcorn is made to its many uses, and its planting and pollination cycles. "A hull covers a kernel. Inside each kernel there is some moisture. When a kernel is heated the moisture expands. Pop! The hull bursts open. Now the popcorn is ready to eat." Brightly illustrated in yellow and green hues, Corn is highly recommended as a wonderful addition to children's library collections.