The Tiny Seed
A book to begin on with story and pictures by Eric Carle
published by Little Simon, 1987
Lexile: 400L
30 pages
found: a gift
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle was a gift for my son with the message, “You were a tiny seed when you were born and I’m sure you will make great things!” The story is that of a seed, much smaller than the others. One who does not fly as high and blooms a bit late, but comes into its own nonetheless. In following the seed for an entire seasonal cycle, we see the seed bloom and return to seed. It addresses issues of self-esteem and patience in readers who may not always be the best or strongest. The story of The Tiny Seed encourages little ones to appreciate who they are and understand that everyone blooms in their own time.
Eric Carle gives us rich color and texture with this story and I really think it captures the feeling of movement in the seed. Nature is my favorite subject to teach and I especially love to draw parallels between environmental cycles and human nature. In this case, plant cycles and the need for optimal growth conditions demonstrate the many variables in human growth. The fact that the tiniest of seeds grows into a giant flower that reaches all the way up to the sun tells little ones that even the humblest can come into greatness.
The story is easy to follow and the pictures are stimulating so this book could easily be read to children of any elementary age. It might be particularly beneficial for students studying plant cycles to help them relate to the environment. For an interdisciplinary approaching, I would have students study “where do seeds come from” and “how to they travel?” Have students stand up and move around the room as the story describes the seed flying up to the sky, skimming the ocean, hiding from a bird, growing up to the sky, and taking off to the wind once more. Ask students “did the size and speed of the seed effect the tiny seed?” Hopefully they will recognize that the adventures of the tiny seed lead it only the brilliance.
