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Kadir Nelson’s If You Plant a Seed is a beautifully simple and thoughtful picture book that explores the power of our choices. Through a gentle and straightforward narrative, Nelson compares the seeds we plant in the ground—carrots, tomatoes, and cabbage—with the seeds we plant in our hearts, such as selfishness and kindness. The message is clear: selfishness brings trouble, while kindness bears sweet and abundant fruit.
Though the text is non-religious and quite minimal, its theme is universally valuable, making it a great read for primary schoolers.
Nelson’s illustrations are a stunning mix of sweetness and energy, with a cartoonish quality that evokes the style of Pixar. His expressive animal characters and lush, vibrant paintings invite young readers to linger on every page.
This is a book that can be read aloud in just a couple of minutes, but its message and illustrations will bring readers back to it again and again.
