Ten Seeds [Hardcover]

Ruth Brown (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 8, 2001 | Age Level: 2 and up

"Ten seeds–one ant. Nine seeds–one pigeon. Eight seeds–one mouse. . . .”
Watch the countdown as seeds and plants disappear until just one beautiful flower remains.

Keep your eyes on the garden as ten seeds are planted, but only one beautiful flower blooms. Thanks to one ant, one mouse, one pigeon, and lots of other creatures (making a total of nine to be exact!), seeds go missing, and plants get eaten. All except the last, which grows a majestic flower and then drops ten seeds so the cycle can begin anew.

In this fresh new take on counting concepts, Ruth Brown uses her lush artwork to showcase the life of a garden as she counts down from ten to one. Ten Seeds, with its light humor and spare text, is a perfect bridge for toddlers and preschoolers ready to step up to more sophisticated stories.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Learning Made Fun"Ten seeds,/ one ant./ Nine seeds,/ one pigeon." As the countdown begins in Ten Seeds by Ruth Brown, children watch the seeds (then seedlings, shoots and plants) disappear from various encounters. The last seed survives, turning into a sunflower and then dropping 10 seeds so the cycle will begin again. Printed on sturdy stock, the book's full-spread art gives readers an up-close look at gardening.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K-Cleverly combining simple subtraction with the growth of plants, Brown's plot opens with 10 seeds being snugly planted in rich, black soil. An ant lifts out the first seed, a pigeon picks up the second just as it's beginning to develop rootlets, and a mouse digs the next as it grows longer roots. A slug eats one of the seven remaining seedlings, a mole burrows under one of the six shoots, and a cat claws up the next one. Four small plants are further reduced by one ball, one puppy, and too many greenflies, until a lone surviving sunflower blooms and ultimately produces 10 seeds. With accuracy and charm, the handsome, realistic, double-page watercolor illustrations bring the cycle to life.
Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 24 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers; First Edition edition (May 8, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375806970
• ISBN-13: 978-0375806971
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,076,750 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Review of Ruth Brown's "Ten Seeds", September 15, 2005

By 

Pam Tee "Busy Mom" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Ten Seeds (Hardcover)

I have to admit to being one of those mom's who likes books that not only entertain but also teach something. Who wouldn't want to find a book that has great art, a story, AND that teaches math (and in this case science) as well--wahoo!

In this light, `Ten Seeds' provides alot. First the artwork is very nice, and the story, while short, is cute. As indicated by the other reviewers, a boy plants 10 seeds and one by one their numbers are reduced. This is a great way to introduce subtraction and to make it more `concrete'. (This also works with M&M's by the way.)

But in addition to this the artwork introduces some science. First you can see how the seeds grow, first putting out a single root that splits, then roots multiply, and the tiny plant sends out the first leaves that seek the sun. These false leaves give way to real leaves and then a flower which blooms (sunflower), grows old, leaving the boy with more seeds to plant next year.

And lest we forget, there are animals to talk about. The seeds/seedlings are reduced principally by living organisms such as an ant, a pigeon, a mouse, a slug, a mole, a cat, a puppy, greenflies. Some of these are not the usual animals we see in kids books. And in addition there are other creatures that can be seen beneath (and above) the ground such as earthworms, bees, ladybug, and other unidentifiable squirmies.

Five Stars. The artwork is very nice and the pages are more substantial than in many books for this age range. The plot is a little simple, but there is lots of message: science, math: the seasons and how things grow.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Detailed and amazing illustrations, August 25, 2005

By 

Rochelle Siegel (Venice, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ten Seeds (Hardcover)

This book is a piece of artwork you will enjoy as much as your child. I am blown away by the talent shown in these illustrations.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ten Seeds by Ruth Brown, January 25, 2003

By 

R. Goold (Columbia, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ten Seeds (Hardcover)

We LOVE this book! I've been looking all over for a good book that portrays the growth of a seed and this book achieves that beautifully. My kids (ages 4 and 2) want it read to them over and over again. It is also a great counting backwards (or subtraction) book.