The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America is a book by First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama published in 2012. The book promotes healthy eating and documents the White House Kitchen Garden through the seasons.

Companion guide - Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom
A touching and delightful book. Children's literature at its finest, this little novel will appeal to both young and old--anyone who enjoys an artfully crafted story. Anyone who grew up in the country will especially appreciate this sweet and loving portrayal of a wonderful farm family. And young people growing up in the cities and suburbs today will enjoy learning about real life in rural and small town America.

Maize, or corn, was the staple food of many early cultures in South America, Mesoamerica, and the Caribbean. The Biography of Corn will teach young readers how the farming of corn spread to the rest of the world and how corn may be one answer to today's problem of fossil fuel consumption. Topics include:

• What is commodity?
• where corn originated

This work is for ages 8-14. From plant to T-shirt, this intriguing new book follows the history of this natural fibre from its earliest beginnings in Pakistan and Peru to its world-wide use today. Colour photographs and maps describe the plant itself as well as where and how it is produced. Historic black and white images help tell the real story of the early cotton trade highlighting slavery, child labour, and the manufacturing process. Other topics include; What is a commodity?; how cotton was used in the Ancient world; the history of cotton use and the textile industry; new technologies created to harvest cotton, and their effects on the rest of society; the lives of people on plantations, in the cotton fields, and in Mill Towns; cotton manufacturing around the world.

Spanish conquistadors brought the potato form South America to Europe in the 1500s. Since then, the potato has helped keep peasants from starving, fed armies, and is today the world's most popular vegetable. The Biography of Potatoes underlines the importance of this source of nutrition throughout history. Topics include:

• What is a commodity?
• the origins of the potato plant

One of the first plants to be cultivated by farmers, wheat as a staple food source made permanent settlements possible. It also inspired the creation of early trade networks. Children will learn how one of the world's most important food crops is grown, harvested, sold, and processed into food products. Topics explored include:

• how the world's population grew with the advent of wheat-growing societies
• how the plow, seed drills, and the tractor increased crop yields

The history of wool is not simply the history of a product that people wear, but a history of farming, human migration, and manufacturing. This intriguing new book tells the story of one of the world's first fibers, spun into cloth since as early as 1500 B.C. Topics include:

• sheep and goat farming and fleecing
• British woolen goods prized by Roman invaders

Cowgirls and cowboys take part in many aspects of livestock operations, from calving and branding to haying and rounding up the herd. With a colorful and informative text, illustrated with action-packed photographs, Cat Urbigkit's book follows cattle kids through a year of ranching on the western range.

How now, milk cow? In this rib-tickling tale of a young boy faced with a very unusual breakfast guest, readers are treated to a deliciously humorous lesson in just where their next meal might come from. Join Patrick and his father as they face (and feast with) The Cow in Patrick O'Shanahan's Kitchen.

This book follows a farmer through the work day, and describes the occupation and what the job requires.

George Washington as he's rarely seen. Besides being a general and the first president of the United States, George Washington was also a farmer. His efforts to create a self-sufficient farm at Mount Vernon, Virginia, mirrored his struggle to form a new nation. Excerpts from Washington's writings are featured throughout this NSTA/CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book, which also includes a timeline, resource section, as well as essays on Washington at Mount Vernon and his thoughts on slavery. Both illustrator and author worked closely with the staff of Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens to render an accurate portrait of Farmer George at work.

Explore the natural world with Gail Gibbons in this introduction to farming and the work done on a farm throughout the seasons.
Farms are busy places throughout the year. Animals are born, fields are plowed and planted, and crops are harvested. The winters are quiet, but there are always chores to be done, and soon spring will come again.

Maya loves contests, so she is excited when her teacher announces they will plant a school garden like Thomas Jefferson's garden at Monticello--and they'll have a "First Peas to the Table" contest, just like Jefferson and his neighbors had each spring. Maya plants her pea seeds with a secret head start--found in Jefferson's Garden Book--and keeps careful notes in her garden journal. But her friend Shakayla has plans of her own for the contest...Susan Grigsby's light-hearted classroom story also presents scientific and historical information. Nicole Tadgell's watercolors add both appeal and botanical accuracy.

With simple language and bright illustrations, non-fiction master Gail Gibbons introduces young readers to the processes of pollination, seed formation, and germination. Important vocabulary is reinforced with accessible explanation and colorful, clear diagrams showing the parts of plants, the wide variety of seeds, and how they grow.

Sally is a young girl living in rural Alabama in the early 1900s, a time when people were struggling to grow food in soil that had been depleted by years of cotton production. One day, Dr. George Washington Carver shows up to help the grownups with their farms and the children with their school garden.He teaches them how to restore the soil and respect the balance of nature. He even prepares a delicious lunch made of plants, including "chicken" made from peanuts. And Sally never forgets the lessons this wise man leaves in her heart and mind. Susan Grigsby's warm story shines new light on an African American scientist who was ahead of his time.

Companion guide - Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom
When Brother's dad is shipped off to Iraq, along with the rest of his reserve unit, Brother must help his grandparents keep the ranch going. He’s determined to maintain it just as his father left it, in the hope that doing so will ensure his father’s safe return. The hardships Brother faces will not only change the ranch, but also reveal his true calling.

Winnie Finn is crazy about earthworms and knows everything about them. When spring arrives in Quincy County, all she can think about is the county fair coming up. This year, she would like nothing more than to win a prize for her worms so that she might buy a shiny new wagon for transporting them around. Trouble is, there's no prize at the fair for worms...
Bright, energetic illustrations accompany this jaunty tale about a young girl's creativity that will inspire readers of all interests— but especially those with a love for something wiggly.