Picture-book author and artist Mia Posada, whose ecologically-themed books include such titles as Summer Green to Autumn Gold: Uncovering Leaves' Hidden Colors to Robins: Songbirds of Spring, made her debut here, in this rhyming story about dandelions. The simple narrative explores the life cycle of this weed, from the growth of a flower and the dissemination of seeds, to the sprouting of a new plant. The book closes with an afterword giving more information about dandelions, from how to use them in food to the science behind their growth...

Pairing an engaging and informative narrative in rhyme with lovely illustrations - the depiction of the dandelion as a ball of delicate wisps was particularly beautiful! - Dandelions: Stars in the Grass makes an excellent introduction to this plant, for younger children. I don't know that I enjoyed it quite as much as some of its creator's later work, but it was still very appealing, and I appreciated the afterword, with its additional information. I also appreciated the inclusion of the idea, at the beginning of the book, that the dandelion has worth, even if it is often considered "only" a weed. Recommended to young children who love to blow on dandelions - I was one myself, as a girl - and to picture-book readers looking for a basic introduction to a very common plant. ( )

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discusses the process of a dandelion, how it looses it's seeds and how they travel around the environment.
1 book

This is a beautifully poetic book that teaches children in a whimsical way about the life cycle of a plant, specially a dandelion. The rhyming words help children connect the word concepts to the illustrations. I like the perspective of this book about dandelions, as many children would have heard their parents discussing them and might be familiar with them in a negative way. This book puts a fresh spin on a subject that many children would be able to relate to, or be familiar with.

This is a great book to use to incorporate literacy into a science unit about plants or the life cycle of plants in a fun, non-textbook type of way. This book can be used as an introduction to the life cycle of plants. It allows teachers to introduce the unit words in a creative way before delving into the specifics on a more scientific level. I love the mixture of science and poetry and rhyming. I think this is a great way to help children make meaning of the world around them. ( )

Dandelions, stars in the grass by Mia Posada is a non-fiction picture book about a common flower, or weed, that most children in this east-coast area have come across. The story is told in rhyming fashion about the life of a dandelion from its yellow flower and "fluffy tufts of white" to its seedlings flying through the air before resting and rooting. The authors use of playful wording combined with the colorful illustrations make for a fun read, one that you can almost forget is informational. The back of the book also contains further history on the dandelion or Taraxacum officinale, as well as further scientific research ideas children can use to find out more about this interesting plant. This book would make a great addition to any early elementary school classroom.