THE LIFE OF RICE

Many rice farmers all over Thailand still plant and harvest by hand, with the help of family members and such animals as water buffalo and elephants. For this second in the Traveling Photographer series, Sobol goes from Uganda (Breakfast in the Rainforest, 2008) to Thailand to document the life cycle of rice in both low- and high-tech agriculture. He presents colorful, eye-catching photographs to accompany his narrative of how rice is grown, harvested, used and eaten and also provides glimpses into Thai culture, especially the farmers for whom “rice is life”; rice is such an important part of Thai culture that there are several national holidays dedicated to the crop. (A listing of the holidays and their descriptions is included in the back, along with a glossary, rice facts and the names of some popular Thai rice dishes.) The end pages show a simple, unlabeled global map with Thailand highlighted, while the first page features a slightly more detailed map of Thailand and its surrounding areas. Using rice as a lens, this book delivers an engaging snapshot of Thailand and its people. (Nonfiction. 7-10)