Jody's grandad gives her some runner bean seeds, which they plant and watch together. All through the spring, summer and autumn, Jody cares for her beans and watches as they grow and grow. Then, at last, they are ready to pick and eat. Meanwhile, Jody's mum has a baby growing inside her...This is an informative picture book about life cycles and seasons. It covers key topics of the National Curriculum.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2When Jodys Granda comes to visit, he brings some seeds, which the two plant together. Each step of the growth and care of the scarlet runner beans is described throughout the spring, summer, and fall, as Granda visits or telephones with helpful information and encouragement. Whenever Jody asks what will happen, he says, Wait and see. Under the girls watchful eye, the plants grow tall, flower, produce edible beans, and, finally, provide seeds for next year. At the same time, seen mostly through the illustrations, Jodys mothers pregnancy progresses and by harvest time theres a new baby. However, the focus of the story remains on growing scarlet runner beans. The process is clearly described, and an index refers readers back to particular topics, such as pinching back or staking seedlings. The detailed ink-and-watercolor illustrations show many aspects of the plants and also of the relationship between Jody and her grandfather.Carolyn Jenks, First Parish Unitarian Church, Portland, ME
From Kirkus Reviews
This smart little story from Doyle, about growing a tepee of runner beans, can be extended to take in the big canvaslife itselfbut its charm resides in the focus on a singular natural event. Jody and her grandfather prepare a patch of earth for some bean seeds. He comes back for intermittent visits, but it is up to Jody to tend the beans and report back to him by phone. Granda offers a measure of advice, but doesn't pile on the directions, allowing Jody to exercise her powers of observation and gathering experience to get it right. Her attentiveness leads to great pleasure in the growth of the vines, the red flowers, the beans themselves (`` `Oh,' said Jody. `I didn't know we were going to eat them' ''). Meanwhile, Jody's mother is growing larger with pregnancy, but that subplot resides mostly in the illustrations. Come autumn, the big beans on the top of the tepee yield a surprise. The story resembles a fine reduction sauce, as Doyle's imagery and newcomer Allibone's delicate, framed watercolors yield a rich, concentrated delight.
About the Author
Malachy was born in Ireland, went to college in England, brought up his children in Wales and has now returned to Ireland, where he lives on a tiny island off the coast of County Donegal.
After spells in advertising and as a special needs teacher, Malachy turned to writing children's books. He has now had over 70 published and has won many prizes, including the Parent's Choice Gold Award and the Anne Izard Storytellers' Choice Award (for 'Tales from Old Ireland'), the Nestle Children's Book Silver Award (for 'The Dancing Tiger'), the Tir na nOg Award (for 'Georgie') and the English Association Award (for 'Cow').
