Kadir Nelson’s art is just brilliant. In his latest picture book, If You Plant a Seed, the pictures are so vibrant and colorful that they jump off of the page. Nelson has written a tale about planting seeds with a double meaning. The pictures show the literal planting and harvesting of vegetables, while the text talks about planting seeds of kindness rather than selfishness. There’s no question about the message here, and there is much to enjoy in the faces and gestures of these charming animals.

Book reviewed by Erin E., Youth Services Programming Coordinator