Oh Say can you seed? By Bonnie Worth

 

Oh say can you seed? is a perfect non-fiction book for introducing children to flowering plants. The cat in the hat examines various parts of seeds and plants in this easy to read story for young children.

With the Cat in the Hat as the guide, children are encouraged to think about the different ways we use plants, "from the paper for books and the cloth for your pants". He helps students understand that plants are used for food, clothing, and medicines, and are used for so many of our daily needs.

With the assistance of Thing 1 and Thing 2, Cat in the Hat defines what a seed is for students and illustrates the anatomy of seeds. He illustrates the growing timeline of seeds and identifies the parts of the plant once the seed has grown. Bonnie Worth also shares what plants need to grow and how plants are the only living things on Earth that make their own food through photosynthesis.

Language

The first thing that struck me about the language of this book were the American English links. First of all, the title Oh say can you seed? instantly reveals the language of the book before you even read the first page due to the fact it is a play on words of lyrics from the American National Anthem. Secondly, there are phrases used throughout the book such as pants and traveled (spelt travelled in England). From that point of view, if the book were to be used in science lessons, teachers would have to be careful with the terminology and phrases used in the book.

Throughout the book there is a sing song rhyme that instantly transforms its contents from a non-fiction education book to a story about seeds i.e.

I'm the Cat in the Hat,
and I think that you need
to come take a look at
this thing called a seed.

The rhyme makes the book much more fun and enjoyable to read for children and could also help in reinforcing and improving the intake of the information presented through the story.

The book also gives the reader a very personal connection between the reader and the characters in the story. The Cat in the Hat often says I think, I will or I mean which reinforces the fact that he is the one doing the teaching in the story and taking the reader on the journey of a life of a seed.

By using phrases such as the cloth for your pants or the veggies you eat , Bonnie Worth gives the reader the feel that the Cat is talking directly to them, and also relating themes in the book back to a students everyday life. Presenting information in the context of a child's everyday life can also help to improve and increase understanding of key concepts.

Rhetorical questions such as Can you think of the ways? gets the reader thinking. In the context of this story, it gets the children thinking about all the different ways in which plants are used throughout our lives.

Illustrations

Opening pages of Oh say can you seed?

The book is full of colourful and interesting illustrations that can attract attention,  enhance understanding and create context. The illustrations can also help in aiding retention of key facts/ concepts because they give the children something that they can use in identification i.e. matching an idea with a diagram.



Photosynthesis diagram from Oh say can you seed?
 

The book also goes into great detail with diagrams and charts that match descriptions in the text in order to help children understand and bring to life the processes or parts involved with seeds and plants.