"Little Yellow Pear Tomatoes", by Demian Elaine Yumei, captures the early wonder children find in the the garden. The book follows a little girl as she discovers all the "not-a-tomato things" that are necessary to create her very special garden treat.
The learning angle of this charming book is in how children discover how everything is connected. We all make a contribution, and her lesson is in seeing that her parents, the sun, the rain, and even the ladybugs and earthworms are all a part of the tiny yellow pear tomatoes that she loves so much.
The wonder and discovery in this book brought back the first time I tasted a wild strawberry that my grandmother inisisted we stop and pick. This serves as a spiritual reminder that even the most simple tasks of our daily life are connected to a farmer's harvest a hundred miles away, and the importance of teaching our children this. Deliciously illustrated, "Little Yellow Pear Tomatoes" makes a great gift and encourages children to share in the vital connection between all living things.
