Pollination by Christopher Cheng. Illus. by Danny Snell

Subtitled, How does my garden grow, this book is a gently humorous and family oriented information book about how things are able to grow.

Gran and Pa are a little surprised when their grandson waves at the bees to keep them away. They show him the yellow pollen on the flower heads, and how the bee picks it up and drops it on other flowers. They tell him about the other insects that can pollinate flowers as well as bees.

Colour is also important as some pollinators are attracted to particular colours in the garden. 

At night they wait for the larger pollinators to make their appearance in the garden, and out come the blossom bats and sugar gliders, having pollen stick to their noses ready to be transported. Not only animals, said the grandparents, pollen is also moved on windy days.

Even the material that our clothes are made from rely on pollination. Cotton for example.

Going home he takes a potted plant from the grandparents place to put on his balcony, as even potted plants are useful for city pollinators.

Danny Snell’s charming illustrations show the child and the grandparents working in their garden, teaching the young child what each part of the garden is for. The endpapers reveal a host of pollinators seen in the garden and will entice readers to find them in the book. The contrast between the grandparents large back yard with all of the trees and vegetables they produce, and the child’s home in the city where a balcony is the only garden space they have, will intrigue young readers, as they work out what can be achieved in each space. Knowing that pollination is so important will propel them to add more growing plants to their homes, classrooms, or balconies. Teacher's notes are available.

Themes: Pollination, Pollinators. Bees, Gardens, Vegetables, Family.

Fran Knight