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Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table (Food Heroes)
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About Farmer Will Allen And The Growing Table
Product Description Will Allen is no ordinary farmer. A former basketball star, he's as tall as his truck, and he can hold a cabbage--or a basketball--in one hand. But what is most special about Farmer Will is that he can see what others can't see. When he looked at an abandoned city lot in Milwaukee he saw a huge table, big enough to feed the whole world. No space, no problem. Poor soil, there's a solution. Need help, found it. Farmer Will is a genius in solving problems. In 2008, the MacArthur Foundation named him one for his innovative urban farming methods, including aquaponics and hydroponics. Jacqueline Briggs Martin, author of the Caldecott Medal winner, Snowflake Bentley, and Alice Waters and the Trip to Delicious , along with debut artist Eric-Shabazz Larkin's striking artwork, tells the inspiring story of the African American innovator, educator, and community builder. Farmer Will Allen is the first book of Martin's Food Heroes series, followed by Alice Waters and the Trip to Delicious. In 2015, it was selected by Points of Light Foundation to set a new Guinness World Record for the most children reading the same book across the globe to promote literacy. Nearly 300,000 participated. Review * 2014 Notable Children's Book, American Library Association* CCBC Choices, Cooperative Children’s Book Center* "Best Books 2013 Nonfiction," School Library Journal* 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2013," New York Public Library* Top 10 Sustainability Title 2013,” Booklist* Top 10 Crafts & Gardening Title for Youth,” Booklist* "15 Books For Future Foodies," Food Tank: The Food Think Tank* Finalist, Beverly Clearly Children's Choice Award 2015-2016, Oregon Association of School Libraries* Finalist, Star Of The North Book Award 2015-2016, Minnesota Youth Reading Awards * Finalist, Louisiana Young Readers' Choice 2016, Louisiana Center for the Book in the State Library of Louisiana The idea of farming as a community builder comes across clearly in the book.” "Starred" review, Booklist "This engaging introduction to the work of Will Allen and his organization, Growing Power, should stimulate interest in gardening in schools, homes, and communities... Larkin’s energetic illustrations reflect both hard work outdoors and the delicious results on a table loaded with good food." "Starred" review, School Library Journal "A timely topic for eco-minded youngsters and future agriculturalists." "Best Books 2013 Nonfiction," School Library Journal Will Allen can see / what others can’t see. / When he sees kids, he sees farmers." Martin begins and ends with this positive premise. In between, she sketches salient events that stoked Allen’s commitment to empowering people to grow their own food. Raised in a food-loving family that grew and shared its own, Will eschewed weeding and picking for college and a move to Belgium to play pro basketball, where he continued gardening on the side. He brought an acumen for growing veggies home to Milwaukee and saw that fresh vegetables / were as scarce in the city / as trout in the desert.” Will bought a polluted city lot and created compost from food waste, aided by red wiggler worms. He taught kids and teens to farm and traveled the world with his message. Martin’s verse text, laced with word bursts in ebullient display type, engages both readers and listeners. In his picture-book debut, Larkin provides mixed-media cityscapes that, eventually, brim with the fruits of Allen’s labor and match Will’s exuberance and spirit of community. This worthy collaboration reveals how one man’s vision of food for all has inspired an amazing life of service.” Kirkus, "Featured Kids' Book Review" This lively introduction to Will Allen’s groundbreaking work (for which he’s received a MacArthur Foundation Genius” grant) features a buoyant narrative by Jacqueline Briggs Martin set against Eric-Shabazz Larkin’s energetic illustrations. It’s impossible not to be inspired by their account of th
