BooksforTopics Reading for Pleasure Recommendations
Book Title: How to Grow & Eat Monster Vegetables (available here)
Author: M. P. Robertson
Publisher: Forget Me Not Books
Publication Date: September 2017
Reviewed By: Leanne Woolcock – Year 6 Teacher and English Coordinator
This book introduces us to keen green-fingered James and his two grandchildren – Sophie and Harry – who detail how to grow, harvest and cook vegetables. Except with a twist: the vegetables are monstrous and have minds of their own! Only the brave can successfully tame and turn them into scrumptious meals for all the family.
Similar to Dare to Care: Pet Dragon by Mark Robertson (also illustrated by M.P Roberston), the reader will be quickly drawn to the clear headings, fact boxes and helpful tips on how to prepare soil, nurture crops and eventually how to yield in order to create actual dishes to eat (recipes are included on some pages)!
This book is a very funny and uniquely styled read; however, the magic is really how the world of fantasy and real-life gardening have been merged together to put an exceptional spin on encouraging children to grow their own vegetables. Children will easily immerse themselves within this monstrous world and learn a lot of gardening facts without realising.
From a creative writing point of view, it is also perfect to show the children how to mix different genres together. It even gives a ‘poo spotters guide’ to ensure your soil is fertilised – what more could a child ask for!
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You can order How to Grow & Eat Monster Vegetables online or from your local bookshop or library.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a review copy of this book and to Leanne Woolcock for reviewing it.
