Meet Alexander and Charlie - the farm boy and his helpful dog who narrate the busy life of a modern, working soybean farm in this fun and informative picture book about a family growing one of the top crops of American agriculture.
The busy days and many jobs of a farm family, the life cycle of a soybean plant, and its life as a crop getting to market are all detailed in My Family’s Soybean Farm, a picture book on what it takes to grow soybeans, and how the crop becomes the many products we use every day. Each spread walks readers through the many steps of planting and growing the crop throughout the seasons, with extensive text features placed beside the story offering range of additional information for readers, from STEM concepts to illustrations of farm equipment, diagrams, and more.
The family’s working together is highlighted throughout, across traditional roles and with modern-day tech: Alexander watches as Mom drives the tractor in a modern cab complete with GPS technology, and later, he and Dad check the crop both with age-old techniques like walking the fields (“crop scouting”) and by using the latest drone technology, too. Detailed drawings show the life cycle of the soybean crop, as well as diagrams on larger concepts, like how soybeans are alternated with corn for soil preservation. Illustrations and information about literally every farm vehicle and other vehicles involved in growing soybeans and getting them to market are also here – including tractor and planter, sprayer, wagons and grain bins, processors, and finally, even barges and trains to get the crops to markets both domestic and around the world. Spreads also show how soybeans are used in a range of products, from Charlie’s bowl of dog food, to foods like soy sauce, feed for farm animals, and more.
Katie Olthoff
Growing up, Katie Olthoff dreamed of following in the footsteps of authors like Laura Ingalls Wilder, Lucy Maud Montgomery and Louisa May Alcott, who wrote fiction based on everyday life. After marrying a farmer and learning more about agriculture, Katie began writing (mostly non-fiction) articles and books about farming, and she has written for many different agriculture organizations and publications. Katie and her husband have three children and live on a turkey farm in central Iowa with their cat, Snuggles, and beagle, Charlie. WWW.KATIEOLTHOFF.COM
Joe Hox
Joe Hox was born with a spade in one hand and a pencil in the other. He was raised on an Iowa farm where he spent his days vanquishing thistles and sketching critters. Today as an artist, he's moved to town, but he's still inspired by rows of corn and fluffy clouds over cow pastures. Joe has illustrated more than a dozen books, including Zoe's Hiding Place and Farmer Gary's Birthday Adventure.
WWW.JOEHOX.COM
Educator Guide Sample Lesson
Download this free sample lesson from My Family's Soybean Farm. In this activity, participants will explain the relationship between milk and soap, and test the reaction between the two.
Free Sample Lesson from Educators Guide
