Before the Seed: How Pollen Moves by Gina Triplett, Matt Curtius, Susannah Buhrman-Deever
ISBN: 1536226572
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

Bright flowers bloom off the pages of Before the Seed by Dr. Susannah Buhrman-Deever with illustrations by Gina Triplett and Matt Curtius. This picture book is a fantastic addition to the mit Kids Press imprint by Candlewick Press that focuses on children’s books in STEM research. Dr. Buhrman-Deever gives us a breathtaking array of unique examples that plants and animals work together to pollinate plants on Earth. The illustrator team created the illustrations digitally, incorporating scans of ink and acrylic paint, which give it a unique and vibrant appearance.

There is a large font on each page that carries a main narration of the pollination process and then a smaller font that gives more in depth information about specific species that interact to create pollination; and it is these examples that makes the book really shine. However, due to some formatting, there is some lack of harmony and flow on the pages that made me enjoy the book less. Overall, I would recommend this book for libraries looking to add to their pollination sections. I definitely learned a lot. Recommended for ages 6-9.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath