The Midwestern part of the USA is known as the Corn Belt. These states stretch from Ohio to Nebraska. On the fertile plains of the Midwest corn is grown in large quantities. Naturally blessed by God with abundant rain and sunshine, the Corn Belt states grow millions of tons of corn each year. This valuable food is processed into many products necessary in today’s society. Gail Gibbons has written an interesting and informative book about the history, planting, harvesting and processing of this important food product.
Corn was planted and harvested in the Americas long before the European encounter with the New World. In Mexico, corn played an important role in Aztec and Mayan society. Called maize, by the Aztecs and Mayans, corn eventually began to be grown in New England. When the Pilgrims came to Massachusetts, Indians in the area taught the settlers the value of this product. Soon, corn reached Europe and began to be grown throughout the continent.
The author describes the four basic varieties of corn.
These are sweet corn, popcorn, flint corn and dent corn. Gibbons shows the agricultural cycle of planting and harvesting corn in this colorful book. We see farmers planting the grain. The corn plant is described in detail. The pollination process is drawn in an accurate and appealing manner. The role of corn silk in the fertilization cycle is illustrated. The height of the average corn plant is now about eight feet tall. The various methods of harvesting corn are also shown. Corn has so many uses in today’s society that people take them for granted. But everything from glue, to syrup, to soap, to medicine and even ethanol comes from this valuable plant. Additionally, many of the states in the Corn Belt rely on corn for tax revenue.
So why does popcorn pop? How many kernels of corn does an average ear contain? Have you ever picked corn? What is Indian corn? Is all corn yellow? Why can delicious corn chips be blue? Have you ever slathered butter on freshly cooked sweet corn? What did it taste like? What other fun things are there to know about this wonderful product? To find out the answers to these questions, go to the library and check out “Corn” by Gail Gibbons.
The drawings in this book are delightful to behold. Children will be drawn to the simplistic, enjoyable art in the text. Gail Gibbons is one of the foremost authors of nonfiction for younger children. She uses accurate information in her stories, and presents the material in an appealing manner. The bright colors and easy to understand science makes her books very useful for children in younger grades. I might add, that most adults will know more about the varieties, and uses of corn than they ever suspected after reading this book. This book can’t be beat for an introduction to one of the most nutritious and valuable foods in the world. I had a great time reading it and think that you and your family will like it as well. So I hope you go to the library and check out this engaging title. Enjoy!
