LOGAN'S GREENHOUSE

Accompanied by his pet chameleon, a boy searches for a carrot in preparation for a pet play date.

Logan, a pale-skinned, red-haired boy who uses a manual wheelchair, surveys fruits and veggies in his greenhouse with the aid of a reacher. Which one is the carrot? In straightforward text, Brown-Wood provides descriptive clues and invites readers to compare and contrast possibilities to find the answer. For instance, a carrot has a few light and dark rings inside it; that purple root has rings, too. Is it a carrot? No, the author explains, that’s a beet; beets have many more rings than carrots do. Carrots are bright orange with ribbed skin—what about that bright-orange, textured plant? But no—that’s an orange, which has dimpled skin. Where could the carrot be? Fortunately, Logan’s chameleon has a keen eye. The elusive carrot finally spotted, Logan and his reptilian pal join “some hungry pets and some hungry friends” for a delicious meal. In addition to learning about leeks, Brussels sprouts, and more, readers will develop their reasoning skills as they apply the author’s clues. With bright hues, clear shapes, and friendly faces, Hardy’s cozy cartoon illustrations add warmth to the snow-dusted setting, and a recipe for winter carrot soup will entice kids to eat their veggies. Background characters are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Young green thumbs will enjoy this engaging intro to winter fruits and vegetables.