Middle School Agricultural Themes Book List
Themes
Biotechnology
Careers
Crops
The Environment
Equipment
Farms and Agriculture
Food and Nutrition
Fruits and Vegetables
Gardening
Insects
People, Community, and Land
Biotechnology
Hawkes, Nigel. Genetically Modified Food Copper Beech Books, 2000.
Introduces the younger reader to the science behind and the issues surrounding the production of food using genetic engineering.
Fine, Edith Hope. Barbara McClintock: Nobel Geneticist Enslow Publishers, Inc., 1998.
Presents the life and career of the geneticist who spent many years studying the cells of maize and, in 1983, was awarded the Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine.
Back to top
Careers
Kahn, Jett. Women in Agricultural Science Careers Capstone Books, 2000.
Learn about six women who have very unique careers in agricultural science.
Maze, Stephanie. I Want to Be a Veterinarian Harcourt Brace & Co., 1997.
Photos and facts describe different kinds of vets, how veterinary science began, and where it is headed. Also shows how to begin exploring the career.
Back to top
Crops
Hunter, Sally M. Four Seasons of Corn: A Winnebago Tradition Lerner Publications, 1997.
A 12 year old learns how to grow and dry corn from his Winnebago grandfather.
Hughes, Meredith Sayles. Glorious Grasses: The Grains Lerner Publications Company, 1999.
With colorful pages in a unique format, learn about some of the world's most important cereal grains, including wheat, rice, corn, millet, barley, oats, and rye.
Hughes, Meredith Sayles. Hard to Crack: Nut Trees Lerner Publications Company, 2001.
With colorful pages in a unique format, learn about a variety of nuts, including pecans, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews, and macadamias.
Back to top
The Environment
Kalman, Bobbie. What is a Plant? Crabtree Publishing Company, 2000.
Learn the basic anatomy of plants, unique characteristics and how and why plants are essential in various ecosystems.
Porterman, Michelle Eva. Compost, By Gosh! Flower Press, 2002.
A delightful children’s book certain to entertain, enlighten, and inspire the potential vermicomposter. A young girl and her mom convert a storage box into a house for their new pets.
Stotksy, Sandra. Trees Are Terrific: Naturescope Series National Wildlife Federation, 1998.
Text and activities introduce the nature of trees, their trunks, growth, leaves, and changing nature.
Back to top
Equipment
Collins, David. Pioneer Plowmaker: A Story About John Deere Carolrhoda Books, Inc., 1990.
John Deere, a young blacksmith in the mid-1880s, created a plow that dirt would not stick to during a potentially disastrous time in Ohio.
Lambert, Mark. Farming Technology. Bookwright Press, 1990.
Discusses machines, breeding, chemicals, artificial insemination, fertilizers, pesticides, and other technology employed in modern farming and considers their effects on our environment and on the future
Back to top
Farms and Agriculture
Artley, Bob. Once Upon a Farm Pelican Publishing Company, 2000.
Through detailed illustrations and text, this book shows the seasons of an old-time farm.
Sorensen, Virginia. Miracles on Maple Hill Harcourt Brace and Company, 1956.
Meet a loving family and learn about the first miracle of the new year when the sap begins to rise in the maple trees, so the family makes syrup.
Winkler, Peter. Feeding the World National Geographic, 2002.
Many current issues about the need for food and world food production are discussed along with a scenario about growing plants at a school that encourages critical thinking.
Woods, Michael and Mary B. Ancient Agriculture Runestone Press, 2000.
Explains in simple terms how the story of agriculture is also the story of civilization. Also describes how ancient cultures left a rich legacy of agricultural knowledge and technology.
Back to top
Food and Nutrition
Harbison, Elizabeth M. Loaves of Fun Chicago Review Press, 1997.
More than 50 recipes and activities take children on a multicultural journey throughout the ages and across the world to discover the history and uses of bread.
Hughes, Meredith Sayles. Flavor Foods: Spices and Herbs Lerner Publications Company, 2000.
This fun-filled book provides information on leaves, fruits, bark, flowers, pods, seeds the aromatic odds and ends we call seasonings.
Back to top
Fruits and Vegetables
Bauer, Joan. Squashed Puffin Books, 1992.
Ellie Morgan's life would be almost perfect if she could get her potentially prizewinning pumpkin to put on about two hundred more pounds before the Rock River Pumpkin Weigh-In.
Burns, Diane L. Cranberries: Fruit of the Bogs Carolrhoda Books, Inc., 1994.
A brief history of the "bog ruby" reveals the berry's versatility and importance to the Native Americans and pilgrims. Shows the activities that take place throughout the growing season on a cranberry farm.
Hughes, Meredith Sayles. Yes We Have Bananas: Fruits from Shrubs and Vines Lerner Publications Company, 2000.
Examines the discovery and migration of bananas, berries, and melons, as well as their roles in cooking, technology, and world cultures.
Hughes, Meredith Sayles. Buried Treasures: Roots and Tubers Lerner Publications Company, 2001.
Examines the discovery and migration of potatoes and edible roots, as well as their roles in cooking, technology, and world cultures. The field-to-table process is also examined.
Hughes, Meredith Sayles. Cool as a Cucumber, Hot as a Pepper: Fruit Vegetables Lerner Publications Company, 1999.
Information with a bit of history about vegetables that are scientifically fruits; includes colorful photographs and illustrations.
Hughes, Meredith Sayles. Green Power: Leaf and Flower Vegetables Lerner Publications Company, 2001.
This book, with colorful photographs and a unique format, provides information, recipes and stories about leaf and flower vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, artichokes, spinach, lettuce, and Belgian endive.
Hughes, Meredith Sayles. Spill the Beans and Pass the Peanuts Lerner Publications Company, 1999.
With colorful pages in a unique format, learn about legumes and the many products made from these peanuts, lentils, peas, and beans.
Hughes, Meredith Sayles. Stinky and Stringy: Stem and Bulb Vegetables Lerner Publications Company, 1999.
Examines the discovery and migration of onions, garlic, leeks, celery, asparagus, and rhubarb, as well as their roles in cooking, technology, and world cultures.
Weaver, William Woys. 100 Vegetables Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2000.
Enjoy learning about 100 intriguing vegetables from around the world, some of which are regulars on the dinner table.
Back to top
Gardening
Baron, Robert C. Garden and Farm Books of Thomas Jefferson, The Fulcrum Publishing, 2000.
Reproductions of Jefferson's garden and farm journals along with selected correspondence on gardening and farming from Jefferson to Washington, Adams, Madison, and others.
Caduto, Michael J. and Joseph Bruchac. Native American Gardening: Stories, Projects and Recipes for Families Fulcrum Publishing, 1996.
Stories, projects, and recipes that relate to Native Americans from North America. Each story relates to one aspect of gardening, such as soil preparation or harvest.
Fleischman, Paul. Seedfolks HarperCollins Publishers, 1997.
One by one, a number of people of varying ages and backgrounds transform a trash-filled inner-city lot into a productive and beautiful garden. In doing so, the gardeners are themselves transformed.
Hardesty, Constance. Grow Your Own Pizza: Gardening Plans and Recipes for Kids Fulcrum Publishing, 2000.
For gardeners and food connoisseurs of all ages, this fun yet practical resource takes you step-by-step from dirt to the dinner table. Organized by easy, medium, and advanced level garden plots.
Lovejoy, Sharon. Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots Workman Publishing, 1999.
Twelve easy-to-implement ideas for theme gardens that parents, teachers, and kids can grow together are described in this book including moon gardens and sunflower houses.
National Gardening Association. Dictionary of Horticulture Viking, 1994.
A resource book from A to Z explains and defines gardening terms.
Rushing, Felder. New Junior Garden Book Meredith Books, 1999.
This colorful and student-friendly book provides hundreds of projects for kids to grow and make. Projects are ranked from simple to more advanced.
Back to top
Insects
Julivert, Angels. Fascinating World of Ants, The Barron's, 1991.
Many facts about ants are presented in a way to give young readers some understanding of nature's role for these dynamic insects.
Starcher, Allison M. Good Bugs for Your Garden Alogonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 1998.
Pocket-sized hardcover book is full of illustrations of "good bugs." Each figure is surrounded by important facts, including size, eating habits, and life cycles.
Back to top
People, Community, and Land
Adair, Gene. George Washington Carver, Botanist Chelsea House Publishers, 1988.
This biography describes the life of George Washington Carver and how he became the first black man of science to emerge as an American folk hero.
Hawke, Sharryl Davis and James E. Davis. Seeds of Change Addison-Wesley, 1992.
The story of cultural exchange between the Old and New World since 1492, emphasizing the horse, potato, corn, sugar, and disease. Adapted from original Smithsonian edition of Seeds of Change.
Hayford, James. Gridley Firing New England Press, 1987.
The family farm is not doing well and young Martin is concerned that the rich contractor who is buying up land will buy his farm and build houses which will move wildlife inhabitant out of their homes.
Haywood, John. Work, Trade, and Farming Lorenz Books, 2001.
Learn what the workers of ancient Egypt, Greece, and the Inca Empire did for a living, and find out what trades, professions, and skills were essential to keep ancient societies running smoothly.
Hesse, Karen. Out of the Dust Scholastic Press, 1997.
In a series of poems, 15-year-old Billie Jo relates the hardships of living on her family's wheat farm in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl years of the Depression.
Miller, Peter. Vermont Farm Women. SSilver Print Press, 2002.
Words and photographs that profile 45 women who run their own farms.
Nelson, Marilyn. Carver: A Life in Poems Front Street, 2001.
This collection of poems provides a compelling and revealing portrait of George Washington Carver's complex and profoundly devout life.
Back to top
Compiled by New York Agriculture in the Classroom, December 2005
Back to NYAITC Resources
Back to NYAITC Home