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The Vegetables We Eat

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What are vegetables, anyway? Give kids the 411 on veggies with this richly illustrated introduction to produce!


Peppers, beans, corn, and peas!  Nonfiction superstar Gail Gibbons lays out the basics of veggies with colorful watercolors and straightforward text. Learn how they grow, how they get to stores, and how many kinds there are—and learn some weird trivia, too!

Diagrams, cross sections, and illustrations get kids up close and personal with glossy red peppers, plump orange pumpkins, delectable little peas, and dozens of other vegetables in this essential primer on the subject.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

7 people are currently reading
373 people want to read

About the author

Gail Gibbons

231 books166 followers
From gailgibbons.com: I was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1944. Even as a little child, I was always busy putting books together. Sometimes I would bind them with yarn to hold the pages together. I've always loved drawing and painting. I was also a very curious child. My parents tell me that I was always asking lots and lots of questions.

Later, I went on to the University of Illinois, where I studied graphic design. Then I moved to New York City, where I got a job doing artwork for television shows. Eventually I was asked to do the artwork for a children's show. While doing that show, some of the children asked me if I had ever thought of doing children's books. My mind immediately recalled how much I enjoyed doing that type of thing when I was a child. So I put an idea for a book together and right away a publisher bought it. That book was called Willy and His Wheel Wagon. Since then, over 170 books that I have written and illustrated have been published. The type of books I write are non-fiction books. This is because I love researching so much. I get to ask lots of questions, just like when I was a kid. I also get to travel and meet lots of interesting people. While doing research for my book Nature's Green Umbrella: Tropical Rain Forests, I traveled to two islands where there are tropical rain forests, Saba and Dominica. I also had a great time writing and illustrating the book. I get a lot of pleasure from doing the type of work I do.

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5 stars
110 (26%)
4 stars
150 (36%)
3 stars
131 (32%)
2 stars
15 (3%)
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2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
Profile Image for Lisa Vegan.
2,923 reviews1,326 followers
February 4, 2013
Oh, I wanted to love this book. Before I started I even had people in mind to recommend it. It turns out I’m not sending official recommendations to anyone.

The good: The illustrations are wonderful. They do make the various vegetables look wonderful. I like that many show a family all preparing vegetables, and then growing/harvesting vegetables. There is some interesting information about various types of vegetables and some about growing them too.

The bad: It’s really hard to read this book. I tried to read it page by page and that just doesn’t work. For the book to make sense you have to read it at least twice. The first time I guess it should be read to look at the pictures and read the sentences at the bottom of the pages, the main text. Then you have to go back and read all the captions under each vegetable and all the extra text, including some about things such as soybeans used for non-edible purposes. It’s a very unwieldy process, very awkward, though some kids may enjoy the process. And even when read in this way, the sentences seemed really clunky to me.

The really dreadful: This is one of the most didactic books I’ve ever read. For kids who love vegetables, especially those who help choose what to buy and those who help with the cooking, or those who want to do vegetable gardening, or who like learning about the various types of gardening depending on setting, they might very well enjoy it. I’ve loved almost all vegetables my whole life. But this book is not going to convince vegetable adverse kids to change their minds. I cringed at all the propaganda: “It is good for us to eat vegetables…” to “Don’t forget…it is important to eat vegetables. They are good for you.” Yeah, that’s going to work. Not! Not for most kids. I’m sure there are always a few who will be swayed. But the pictures are fun and enjoyable to view.

So, 4 ½ stars for the pictures but only 2 ½ stars for the content (1 for the message but 3 ½ for much of the information) so I guess 3, though that might be slightly generous. I can’t really give it less than 3 stars though. The illustrations are superb and learning about the various types of vegetables, well that part could be interesting for kids who don’t have that information before they read the book/have it read to them.
Profile Image for Geneva Roberts.
43 reviews
March 31, 2014
When I saw the cover of this book I was excited to read it but have to say I was somewhat disappointed. While there is a lot of information about vegetables and how they grow , there maybe just a little TOO much information for young children leaving them feeling overwhelmed. The illustrations are great, I did love that about the book and the information was factual. The book tells about the various types of vegetables we eat and that they are good for us and give our bodies vitamins and fuel, and it tells how these vegetables are grown. This book might be hard to read to children in circle time because of the structure in which it is written with text at the bottom but also there are statements and facts next to some of the pictures, making it hard to figure out the order of it. I do think this book could be useful for teaching children about the benefits of eating vegetables and teaching them how they grow if you broke the book into sections to not have it be too long and information overload for them. You could use the planting section of this book to teach children how plants grow and I would do an activity where they could plant a little bean sprout or something easily grown in little flowerpots or planters they could personalize to make it their own and let them see each day how the process of plant growth occurs . They could each water their plants each day to also encourage responsibility.
Profile Image for Caroline Daniel.
50 reviews2 followers
November 30, 2016
o Summary: This book provides good idea of what children should eat in order to have a well balanced diet. It has great pictures that may make the vegetables more appealing to the young readers and simple text that appeals to young readers as well.
o Grade level: first
o Appropriate classroom use: Read in a wellness classroom
o Individual students who might benefit from reading: kids who don't have a balanced diet
o Small group use: Kids can read and pick out their favorite veggies
o Whole class use: Read and discuss why it is important to eat your veggies
o Related books in genre/subject or content area: Any book about nutrition and veggies
o Multimedia connections available: There are tons of fun videos online that promote healthy eating habits including different songs and dancing music
Profile Image for Mary Ann.
1,485 reviews315 followers
August 17, 2014
Families will appreciate this clear, accessible introduction. “Botanists group the different kinds of vegetables according to the part of the vegetable that is eaten.” Colorful watercolors show all sorts of vegetables, giving a children a sense of both the amazing variety of veggies and how they are grown.
Profile Image for Sarah Hudson.
8 reviews
December 2, 2021
Gail Gibbon’s, the author of The Vegetables We Eat, creates a story overflowing with enriching vocabulary that captures the reader’s attention as they learn about all the different vegetables we eat. Each page depicts illustrations that encompasses the essence of each vegetable. Gail Gibbon’s describes the different groups of vegetables, their physical attributes, where they would grow, how they are produced, and the diversity of how each vegetable is consumed. What’s so interesting about this book are the labels that Gail attaches to the varying vegetables whereby helping readers visualize each part of the vegetables. Gail describes how people from different cultures, locations, and upbringings would prepare and eat some of these vegetables. This nonfictional text reflects the importance of eating vegetables, as Gail explains that no matter where you obtain your vegetables, vegetables are delicious! As many students might not heed the importance of eating their daily vegetables, Gail encourages them as she portrays it beautifully and factually in her nonfictional text.

The Vegetables we eat is a fantastic read aloud book! The different pictures, labels, and commonly cooked food is inviting to the reader as they join in the learning experience. Ideally, this book is best suited as read aloud book for 1st-2nd grade classrooms, because the abundance of information about each vegetable could be overwhelming for beginner readers. If implementing this book into my classroom I would pair it with a writing activity. I would ask students to write descriptions about the book on a worksheet title “First, Next, Then, Last”. Essentially, students would identify varying aspects of the book that correlate with the appropriate section. Students would describe the first idea shared by Gail Gibbons, then write about what happened next, then and last. This activity enhances the student’s preconceived concept of First, Middle, and Last. Another way to use this book in the classroom is to create a vocabulary of the words used in The Vegetables We Eat and ask students to use a dictionary to define its meaning. The use of dictionaries and glossaries correlate with the Common Core Standard, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.4.E, in which it states that students should Use glossaries and beginning dictionaries, both print and digital, to determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases.

This fun and factual text should be introduced to students in the elementary classroom for this genre because students need exposure to the different text features this genre and book embodies. As students learn about the different vegetables we eat, they gain a better understanding about specific nonfictional terms, such as, heading, subtitles, table of contents, and a glossary. Introducing this genre and text to students in the 1st and 2nd grade promotes independence and self-motivation as they develop critical thinking and analytical skills that empower their ability to read and understand complex texts. I thoroughly enjoyed reading and analyzing this book. It will definitely be a book I add to my class library!

26 reviews
November 17, 2018
The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons
1. Awards: N/A
2. Grade Level: K - 2
3. Original Summary: This informational book categorizes over 50 kinds of vegetables, explains the growing, production, shipping, and purchasing process of those vegetables. The pages are filled with detailed labels and definitions along the way.
4. Original Review: I really enjoyed the illustrations and the clear labels, however, there is so much information within this book that it might be overwhelming for some. This is definitely a teaching tool that should be read numerous times and broken down bit by bit to grasp a real understanding of the content.
5. In Class Uses:
1. On page 7 of the book, it gives us 8 groups that botanists categorize vegetables in. Having students act as scientists to study and group vegetables would be a great classroom activity. The following pages show various examples that teachers can bring in to have students sort.
2. Activity pages where students respond to questions like How many of these vegetables have you eaten? Which vegetables would you grow in your garden?
100 reviews2 followers
May 15, 2023
The Vegetables We Eat opens by stating that vegetables are an important part of getting nutrients and that there are many types. The book states and explores the different categorizations of vegetables and provides many examples for each. The book then turns direction and explains how to grow vegetables at home even in places with little ground. There are also some explanations of how to use different store-bought seed packets and the different kinds. It also explains different terminology for growing plants. The book then explores huge vegetable farms, and the different ways vegetables can be sold whether it be canned, frozen, or fresh.  It ends by saying that vegetables can also be bought at farm stands. The illustration of this book is very bright and interactive. Despite the book being a little jumpy and a little advanced vocabulary-wise, this book can be very helpful in teaching children why vegetables are important and where they come from. I would read this to emphasize the importance of vegetables, and to help the children understand where they come from.
Profile Image for Rose Rosetree.
Author 15 books458 followers
September 21, 2024
What a delight to encounter one of Gail Gibbons's charming, informative books about the world of vegetables!

This author and illustrator supplies perfectly ripe illustrations, uncommonly beautiful watercolors. As for the text, it's friendly and practical, written as though the author is actually talking to the reader.

Useful things are taught. Including diagrams and cross sections. Readers learn how vegetables grow, how they get to stores, and about different varieties they may never have encountered before. There are even surprises, for some, about how many varieties of vegetables there are, and what can be manufactured from them. (See Page 20 for many examples that surprised me, to be sure.)

I have no doubt that Gail could make any illustration that doesn't look gorgeous. Here, readers can feast their eyes on magnificent pictures of plump red peppers, intriguing orange pumpkins, super-cute little peas, and plenty of other vegetables, too.

FIVE STARS given with this reviewer's admiration and respect.
26 reviews
November 15, 2018
Appropriate Grade Level: Kindergarten-2nd Grade
Summary: This text provides information on the variety of vegetables that we eat. Many vegetables grow in different ways and in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Gail Gibbons provides information on the eight groups of vegetables that are categorized by the part of the vegetable that is eaten.
Review: "The Vegetables We Eat" provides extensive information on the eight groups of vegetables. The book does an excellent job of providing labeled pictures of different kinds of vegetables within the eight groups. This book will not disappoint; after reading "The Vegetables We Eat" the reader will be well equipt with knowledge on the delicious and healthy vegetables that we eat!
In Class Uses: This book can be used for a lesson revolving around health. The teacher may read this book to teach the students about vegetables that people eat to maintain a healthy eating habit.
27 reviews
March 8, 2019
1. This book is appropriate for Kindergarten through second grade.
2. This book is about eight different groups of vegetables. The eight groups of vegetables are leaf, bulb, flower bulb, root, tuber, stem, fruit and seed. It is an information book and can be read from any point of the book. It shows a picture of each vegetable and then describes it. It also teaches the reader how to plant vegetables and take care of them.
3. This book is great because most children are able relate to it since they have seen the vegetables that are in this book. The pictures are large and the way the words are arranged around it makes it easy to follow along
4. One use for this book in a classroom is to use it when doing a garden or nutrition unit. This book would be a great tool to show students the different categories of vegetables. This book can also help a class when planning our a class garden. The students can use this book to pick what vegetables they want to plant in their garden.
Profile Image for Dominic.
6 reviews1 follower
April 21, 2023
I think our biggest issue with this book is that it may have gone over my son's head. He is 7, and pretty smart, however, I do not think this was a good fit for him. There seemed to be a lot of missed opportunities for "more" information. We opted for the YouTube read-a-loud version, and I had to pause the story a few times to explain the topic a little more, just so my son could follow along with the story. We always welcome side trails from our learning materials, but it seemed a little more inconvenient with this one.

We did enjoy the topic, and I do feel it is a good story - just also feel it needed a little more to bulk it up! We will be revisiting this book again, likely next year, and see if we can better utilize it later on!
Profile Image for sarah young.
323 reviews2 followers
November 17, 2021
I’m surprised by the other overall reviews and ratings.
Whiles this book does give A LOT of information regarding vegetables, how they’re planted and harvested and ultimately processed, it is great for young readers who are extremely curious. This is certainly not a book I’d recommend for your first dive into the subject with your little one, but this rounded out our gardening focus nicely.
It is packed with information, jargon, and great illustrations. Although the focus is on vegetables, I wish there was more diversity presented in terms of people. Ultimately a great addition if you’re striving to educate.
45 reviews2 followers
April 6, 2019
This book is a great way for students to connect science with their personal lives. This book teaches children about the different types of vegetables, what the planting and farming process looks like, and how vegetables get to the stores that we buy them in. Rich in vocabulary, this book would be a great addition to any classroom library. It has a page of fun vegetable facts in the back of the book as well.
73 reviews1 follower
March 23, 2020
I really liked the illustrations in this book and all the diagrams, and I think that kids would find them really fun to look at. However, I felt that it was pretty dry in language and it was incredibly packed with information that wasn’t organized well. Even for a kid that likes gardening and vegetables, this would still be a little much. The illustrations and thought behind this book is great, but the execution was poorly done and a kid would not be able to read through this by themselves.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
5,054 reviews60 followers
March 5, 2019
This book has so much good information - too much good information! It's obviously aimed at children, but there's no obvious flow to the text (words at the bottom and words in the pictures) and it's hard to follow. The pictures are great and very informative as well. This is definitely a book for kids to pour over more than a read aloud choice.
100 reviews
June 6, 2020
Gibbons, with great illustrations, and diagrams writes about vegetables we eat. Children will learn all about vegetables they are eating. How they are grown and why we eat them. They will also learn about the different shapes each vegetable come in, the colors and forms. Gibbons provides a lot of great information about the healthy foods we all eat.
Profile Image for Hailey Vittrup.
441 reviews8 followers
December 29, 2023
*I received this book as a DRC. This is one of the best educational books that I have read in awhile! It is informative and practical, and I learned a lot about vegetables that I didn't know before reading this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the categories of vegetables, other fun facts, and even the basics of farming!
Profile Image for Caroline.
324 reviews3 followers
November 30, 2018
I really like the first part of this book because it talks about groups of vegetables (root, stem, tubers, etc). The second part is about growing veggies and taking them to market/consumers. A bit less useful.
38 reviews
Read
October 5, 2021
This text provides information on the variety of vegetables that we eat. Many vegetables grow in different ways and in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Gail Gibbons provides information on the eight groups of vegetables that are categorized by the part of the vegetable that is eaten.
Profile Image for AMY.
2,825 reviews
December 11, 2018
32 pages. Good basic book on veggies. Great illustrations and labels. Will get kids excited about gardening. Good for reports. Highly recommended for Grades 2-5.
Profile Image for Laurie.
919 reviews
March 12, 2021
Guided reading level M. Good illustrations of the different types of vegetables.
61 reviews
March 22, 2021
This is a picture book and I truly enjoyed the illustrations. A good read and very interesting.
206 reviews4 followers
March 2, 2024
A great visual for children.
35 reviews3 followers
December 2, 2008
Title: Vegetables We Eat
Author: Gail Gibbons
Publisher: Holiday House, Inc., 32 pp, 2007
Audience: Children, ages 8 to 12
Format: Juvenile nonfiction (my choice)

Description:
Gail Gibbons uses her signature combination of informative text with color illustrations and diagrams to provide detailed information about a variety of different vegetables we eat.

Personal Review:
This book does a great job of explaining why vegetables are important and how they are nutritious and help build strong bodies. It also explains the different types and parts of vegetables with clear illustrations. I think this book serves a great overall purpose to get kids to eat their vegetables. There are kids that simply do not eat vegetables because they have the misconception that all vegetables are yucky or do not taste good. This book introduces all types of vegetables to the reader and explains the benefits of eating vegetables. I think that if you inform children about vegetables, maybe they won’t be so opposed to eating them.

Citation of 2 critical sources:
Kathy Piehl’s School Library Journal review points out how much in depth information the author provides about vegetables, from the part of the plant that can be eaten, to where you can buy them or how you can grow them. It also does a good job of explaining how the author provides readers with the understanding of the origins of these vegetables.

Gillian Engberg’s Booklist review starts out by mentioning the national concern about child obesity and nutrition and how this book is effective in addressing that problem. This review is effective for both parents and children in that it provides in depth information about the book and how it is important in delivering a message about nutrition.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews

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