June 29, 1999
In Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, child scientist Holly Evans uses helium balloons to launch vegetable seedlings into the sky so that she can study the effects of extraterrestrial conditions on their development. Six weeks later, giant turnips descend on Montana. In fact, each region of the United States is soon dealing with giant vegetables of some form or another. Wiesner's hilarious paintings of citizens throughout the nation creatively coping with an increase in produce (peas, for example, must be floated like barges down the Mississippi) are accompanied by cleverly understated captions which make this spoof on American resourcefulness even funnier. And what does scientist Evans conclude from her experiment? Even though she knows the giant vegetables aren't the results of her experiment (she never launched arugula!), only readers are let in on the truth behind this strange series of events. CCBC categories: Picture Books. © Cooperative Children's Book Center
Illustrated by David Wiesner
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 4-9
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Extraterrestrials
Gardens and Gardening
Humor
Problem-Solving
Science and Scientists
Publisher:
Clarion
Publish Year: 1992
Pages: 32
ISBN: 0395597625
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Wiesner