Customer Reviews:
 KS1 Winner English Association's Best Books Awards June 10, 2002
45 out of 46 found this review helpful
This most original counting and nature book was a very positive first choice. We thought it would have great appeal for children of about five or six and could be enjoyed in class or savoured at home. And the thick, shiny pages are robust enough to withstand a lot of handling. It explains the plant cycle by telling the story of ten seeds, only one of which survives to become a magnificent sunflower. On the first double spread are ten seeds nestled in dark, rich soil alongside fat, pink worms. Beautifully observed predators pounce on each page: an ant bearing its prize on its head; a plump pigeon; a dextrous mouse; a long, black slug; a sharp -clawed mole; a sleek cat; a crushing ball; a boisterous puppy and an army of greenfly. Lots to observe and talk about here!
The superb illustrations- the early ones are cross sections so we can see the complicated root systems developing- complement a spare but not banal text. Subtle things are made apparent visually and the pictures genuinely extend the text: for example, we see (but do not read) that a ladybird has eaten the greenfly on the surviving plant while its sole companion succumbs to the sheer number of sap-sucking insects. What a lesson about life: chance affects our fortunes. A ladybird alighting on one plant rather than another makes the difference between survival and extinction!
The surviving plant is shown, gloriously golden and orange, with a huge bee collecting its nectar. On the final page a young child catches ten seeds from the fading bloom and we know the cycle begins again. In short - a perfect introduction to how plants grow.
Margaret Mallett ...
 Beautifully illustrated introduction to growing things April 3, 2002
21 out of 21 found this review helpful
Ruth Brown's pictures are lovely - my 2 1/2 year old is fascinated to see what happens to each seed of the original ten. Each one has a different fate, with the eventual solitary flower providing enough seeds to start again. It is a wonderful introduction to the joy (and frustrations) of growing things as well as a counting book. After many borrowings from the library - we are ordering our own. It's simple but its appeal continues.
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