Bean

Children's Literature

The life cycle of a green bean is described in detail and illustrated with excellent color photographs showing the various stages of development. Oval seeds containing tiny plant embryos are encased within the pods, or fruit of the bean. Each seed has two seed leaves which provide nourishment. Moisture causes the seed to swell and germinate, bursting from its coat and sending up a green seedling plant, which uses water, light, and carbon dioxide to grow. Its flowers contain tiny eggs which are fertilized by pollen carried by insects and become new seeds with pods forming around them. The flowers wither, but the pods enlarge to form vegetables and seeds for future plants. A series of pictures showing the developing bean tests the reader's ability to put them in the correct order. A glossary, reading list, and index are included. Activities to identify various bean species, dissect a lima bean, and sprout bean seeds in a glass jar are suggested. It is part of the "Springboards into Science" series. 2001 (orig. 1999), Gareth Stevens,
— Patricia Dole