Amara's Farm

Where in the Garden

by JaNay Brown-Wood, Samara Hardy (Illustrator)

Amara searches for pumpkins on her farm in this vibrant exploration of gardening and healthy eating, from the Where in the Garden? series.

Amara is hosting a potluck for friends on her farm, and she needs help finding her pumpkins to serve a tasty dish. What do we know about pumpkins? They're large, round, and orange—and, wait a minute, is that a pumpkin? No, that's an apple. Where, oh, where could those pumpkins be? Can you help Amara find them in time for her potluck?

The first title in the Where in the Garden? picture book series stars Amara, a young Black girl who explores the crops growing on her family's intergenerational farm. Playful text guides young readers to hunt for visual clues and compare and contrast the unique characteristics of pumpkins against okra, cauliflower, eggplant, and other produce that grows on Amara's farm.

Artist Samara Hardy brings this multi-layered story to life with vivid, cheerful illustrations created from layers of hand painted ink and watercolor texture. Back matter includes a yummy molasses pumpkin bread recipe for little chefs and their adult helpers to try together.

Genres: Picture Books, Food, Storytime, Autumn, Childrens, Gardening, Nature

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2021

About the author

JaNay Brown-Wood, PhD is an award-winning children’s author, educator, and scholar. Her first book Imani’s Moon won the NAESP Children’s Book of the Year Award, and her second book Grandma’s Tiny House: A Counting Story received a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly and won the CELI Read Aloud Book Award. She has several poems published including Falling Leaves in the poetry anthology Thanku: Poems of Gratitude (Lerner/Millbrook, 2019) a Chicago Public Library’s Best Informational Books for 2019, an American Library Association Notable Children’s Book, and a Notable Children’s Book for the Global Society. She has more than seven forthcoming books including Shhh! The Baby’s Asleep (Charlesbridge, forthcoming 2021), Where in the Garden a four-book series (Peachtree, forthcoming 2021, 2022, 2023) and Jam, Too (Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin Random House, forthcoming 2023). She is represented by the fabulous Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary. Learn more about her here at www.janaybrownwood.com or follow her on Twitter @janaybrownwood.

Reviews

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture Book. This book features a young Black girl on a farm, walking with her dog to track down pumpkins. They describe a pumpkin at first and then find other crops that share some attributes but not all. Crops featured include apple, persimmon, potato, cauliflower, eggplant, okra, kumquat, fig, kiwi, and of course pumpkins. The illustrations are bright and cheerful, the food featured shows some crops readers may be unfamiliar with, and there is even a recipe for pumpkin bread made with molasses. Farm related picture books are very heavily skewed white so it was refreshing to see a Black family represented.

[Abby Johnson]

Distinguished because look at your seasonal books and tell me how many Black children you see (I bet not many). This may be a needed book for your collection for representation. It's also a good book for identifying and talking about a variety of fruits and vegetables. And I am just going to go ahead and assume that all the fruits and vegetables she talks about in the book are harvested at the same time in California (apples, cauliflower, kiwi, persimmons, okra, eggplant, kumquat, potatoes, etc.).

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book with lovely illustrations! It is also a rich vocabulary and background knowledge building book for kids.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amara is hosting a potluck for friends on her farm, and she needs help finding her pumpkins to serve a tasty dish. She's searched and searched, but her family's farm has so many plants that she needs help finding them.

While searching her family's intergenerational farm, Amara comes across several types of fruit that she needs the reader's help in identifying. This engages young readers to hunt for visual clues and compare and contrast the unique characteristics of pumpkins against okra, cauliflower, eggplant, and other produce that grows on Amara's farm.

We love Janay Brown-Wood's "Where in the Garden?" series. My daughter has read all 4 books and this one is her favorite. The characters are diverse, the illustrations are beautiful and vibrant, and it teaches children about a wide range of produce and gardening. To further engage with the book and get hands on in the kitchen, there's a recipe at the end of each book. Highly recommend!

[Bree Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amara’s determination to find a pumpkin for her potluck is commendable. I think the strength of this book is the background it builds on the different vegetables grown on Amara’s farm and how they maybe similar to a pumpkin, there is something unique to each that doesn’t quite make it what she’s looking for.

[Jane Dotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I need to get it for our little collection.
I loved the illustrations of the fruits and veggies and just the exposure to food we aren’t accustomed to eating like fresh figs and okra.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amara's Farm is a super cute little picture book about a young girl looking for pumpkins on her farm to prepare for a freshly harvested dinner. The illustrations are really cute, and it goes through different ways to not only identify pumpkins, but also other fall harvest produce you might find on a farm. There is a recipe for molasses pumpkin bread included at the end that I've saved because it looks delicious. Recommended!

[Amelia Blackmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent fall time story that explores a variety of fruits and vegetables. Used for a library storytime program followed by pumpkin catapults!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative, with lots of descriptive words about pumpkins. Detailed pictures allow for lots of interactions between reader and listener(s) and it's easy to skip longer segments or pages if listeners are getting squirrely or are too young for the more advanced words.

[Morton Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Farms | Fruits & vegetables | Interactive (appeal terms from NoveList) - Emma

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follow Amara as she looks for a pumpkin on her farm to take to the potluck.

As a Midwestern, I was confused by the persimmons and figs and kiwis. What are all these tropical seeming fruits? But seriously, it was a cute read - mostly focused on comparing everything in the garden to a pumpkin (ie: this can't be a pumpkin, because it has a thin skin, etc).

[Wendy Harkrider · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to introduce students to edible plants in a fun way. A young girl is working in the garden of her family home with an appreciation for the plants grown to eat. Descriptions of plants are given in such a way to compare as well as to identify what they are. Some examples are persimmons, potatoes, cauliflower, and eggplant. Enjoyment of the food is shown through the beautiful illustrations by Samara Hardy.

[Library Lady Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little too much for the toddlers last week but great for the preschoolers this morning. And I love the introduction of a vast array of fruits and vegetables that have some characteristics of pumpkins but not enough to actually be a pumpkin.
I also liked that it involved the children in the book by asking them each time if this item in Amara's hand was a pumpkin and then explaining what it had that was like a pumpkin but also how it is different.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great interactive read-aloud for a group about pumpkins and produce. A great storytime autumn read!

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amara lives on a farm with her grandmother and they grow all sorts of fruits and vegetables. Today she needs to pick some pumpkins for the autumn potluck, but there are so many food crops on the farm that she is struggling to pinpoint exactly where the pumpkins are. Will she find them in time to prepare something for the potluck?

We LOVE this series (there are three out now and one forthcoming). These books are such a fantastic way to introduce children to agriculture and to continue discussions with them about where our food comes from. This book is really fun because as Amara approaches each type of plant she observes the traits that make it similar to and different from a pumpkin. Red and Magpie both enjoy guessing what fruit or vegetable Amara has come across. I love how each page teaches the similarities and differences between different foods, giving young readers to explore the concepts of comparing and contrasting. This series is also incredibly intentional about inclusive representation (which you know we absolutely value). Snag this one for your fall and autumn shelves and check out the other books in the series. We are really looking forward to the forthcoming installment, “Logan’s Greenhouse!

[Ravali Chalasani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect book for the autumn/fall season. Learn all about pumpkins through Amara's journey on her farm. The illustrations are gorgeous. 1st half on each page has a question for kids. You learn all about a pumpkin: how it grows, what it feels like, what is inside, and what to make the pulp.

The story is about a little girl named Amara who needs to find a pumpkin for her autumn potluck from her farm. While dragging along her wagon, Amara discovers a variety of fruits, vegetables. From apples to kumquat, kiwi to okra, she tries to learn the differences of each. Finally, after scouring the whole farm, she finds the pumpkins amidst the creepy vines. Amara enjoys some wholesome, farm-fresh bountiful snacks with her friends and family.

What a fun book to read with your children.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really cute set-up. The book starts with describing a pumpkin, and then follows it up with repeated opportunities to decide whether a series of fruits and veggies are indeed pumpkins. (Spoiler: they are not.) FINALLY, Amara finds her pumpkins and much delicious food is made from all the harvest.

A delightful fall read, if a little long for a group storytime.

[Elizabeth Bedia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful! AMARA’S FARM is the perfect harvest time story for little readers! Amara is looking for a pumpkin. She engages the reader through questions to help her find one. There are eggplants, persimmons, cauliflower, okra, and many other veggies and fruits. Little readers will learn about each as Amara continues her quest to find a pumpkin. Brown-Wood’s clever and accessible text paired with Hardy’s vibrant illustrations provide a wonderful story that is sure to be requested again and again. Plus, the backmatter includes a yummy recipe for Molasses Pumpkin Bread. A must-read for little gardeners everywhere!

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully bright, colorful pictures! This is the kind of book that gets snatched up in 5 seconds during autumn at my library. Cute Amara is looking all over the farm for a pumpkin, but keeps finding other fruits and vegetables instead. She compares the shape, color, and texture of the other produce she finds to a pumpkin--a great early literacy skill! Some obsure produce makes an appearance too (kumquat, figs, kiwi, etc), which might baffle some of my younger storytime kids, but overall this one's an easy winner.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amara's Farm is a cheery and delightful garden book for the youngest of readers! Amara is looking for a pumpkin for a potluck, but it's not as easy as it seems. Eggplants, persimmons, cauliflower and more share traits with pumpkins. Young readers will learn about autumn vegetables and fruit along with Amara and be able to learn about other fruits and vegetables as the Where in the Garden series continues on with Winter, Spring and Summer. As a bonus, the book includes a recipe for Molasses Pumpkin Bread. Yum!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most children know what pumpkins are and what they look like. But as Amara takes readers on a tour of her farm, readers will be introduced to a variety of fruits and vegetables they may not be familiar with. The detailed descriptions explaining the similarities and differences of each produce item compared to pumpkins also serves as a wonderful learning experience. The bright, simple illustrations will capture readers’ attention. But be ready with the snacks when you finish reading—this story made me hungry!

[Gbarielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very nice out side one fall afternoon so a little girl named amara decided to search for some pumpkins on her family farm in celebration of the good weather she turned he farm to a potluck for her friends and she is the host and in order for her snack to be complete she need pumpkins. I rate this book 4 of 5 stars because I can literally picture this book in action in my head. The illustrations in this book were amazingly done. Children can also relate to this book during halloween when looking for pumpkins.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The narrator and the reader help Amara locate the pumpkins on her farm.

This book introduces young readers to the fruit pumpkin as well as many other fruits and vegetables that share the similar characteristics.

A recipe for pumpkin bread is included.

The produce featured in the book wouldn’t grow in the same climate zone or be ready for harvest all at the same time — not to mention the fact even most "family" farms are industrial monocultures, so readers more familiar with agriculture will just have to roll with or suspend disbelief and chalk it up to California magic.

[Julie Abery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amara’s friends and family are organizing a pot luck supper, and she needs to find a pumpkin! Full of colors and shapes, Amara compares and contrasts the fruits and veggies she finds until she discovers the field full of large and round pumpkins. This book links perfectly with school curriculum projects on ‘farm to table’ and early childhood gardening projects. Don’t miss the recipe at the back for Molasses Pumpkin Bread! Yummy…

[Patricia Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sumptuous book! The lively, rich illustrations and the simple, direct text make this a great scavenger hunt book for the pre-school set. Amara's garden is lush with a variety of foods that might be new to some young readers. Be sure to check out the Molasses Pumpkin Bread recipe at the end to make with your young chefs. For fun, I found this great video online of Brown-Wood cooking the recipe with two youngsters: https://youtu.be/XjuKlM-U3G0.

[Aolund · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this adorable picture book celebrating the fall harvest, Amara (Black with hair in two afro puffs) is looking for her pumpkins! The book invites us to think about what we know about pumpkins and then go throughout the farm searching for them and comparing them to other fruits and vegetables, including eggplants, cauliflowers, kumquats, apples, and more. Just a spot on read great for storytime.

Themes: Farm, Food, Family, Harvest, Autumn
Age range: Toddler-Kindergarten

[Michelle Andersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMARA’S FARM by JaNay Brown-Wood is fun and educational and full of colorful and inviting images by Samara Hardy. Readers are introduced to lesser-common fruits and vegetables and learn about their similarities and differences. It is told from a playful point of view, engaging the reader to play along and helping the narrator find the pumpkins. It’s a great autumn harvest book but one that should be read and enjoyed year-round.

[Jami Gigot · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of JayNay Brown’s books have something about them that kids love and this is no exception! It’s an interactive story asking the kids to help find the pumpkins for Amara’s potluck picnic. We follow Amara as she finds several other fruits and vegetables with similar qualities to pumpkins until finally we discover the perfect pumpkins. It’s a fun book with a great educational bend and even a delightful recipe for pumpkin bread at the end.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amara is having a potluck at her house and needs to find her pumpkins on the large farm. Pumpkins are described in the early pages of the book. As Amara moves around her farm finding different fruits and vegetables, readers are asked if a particular food, with a pumpkin-like characteristic, is in fact, a pumpkin. Quite a few foods are found and put into Amara's wagon, but she struggles to find the pumpkin.

A good one for food, Thanksgiving and fall storytimes. Highly recommended.

[Benson Shum · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMARA’S FARM by JaNay Brown-Wood and Samara Hardy is a fun read that will have kids looking at the illustrations and learning and laughing along. Samara’s illustration’s add anothe layer with Amara’s corgi and all the little critters that flow through the story. Kids will learn about all kinds of fruit and vegetables. There is also a great Molasses Pumpkin Bread recipe at the end.