By Julie Tomascik
Editor

Readers can dig into all that the soil has to offer in the latest accurate ag book—The Soil in Jackie’s Garden—released by Feeding Minds Press, which is the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) publishing venture.

The engaging picture book written by Peggy Thomas and illustrated by Neely Dagget is geared toward children ages 6 to 8.

The book introduces budding gardeners to the magic happening in their own backyards with visuals that open vertically to showcase the secrets beneath the surface of the soil.

“It’s all about a little girl, Jackie, who goes out to the garden,” Thomas said. “But, of course, her gardening journey all begins with the soil.”

Readers follow Jackie and her diverse group of friends as they meet pollinators, measure progress and wait patiently for their plants to grow. Facts are woven into the story and engaging illustrations to teach young readers about the life cycle of a plant, the natural processes that create new soil and the role composting plays in the garden.

“With this book, I weave in all the things about soil, like the fact that it’s alive. You have to nurture it and understand how soil works for plants to grow,” she said.

Thomas, who is the author of more than 20 award-winning non-fiction books for children, is passionate about gardening and speaking with students about sustainability and food security.

“I hope I inspire kids to put their hands in the soil and take a look,” she said. “Hopefully, they want to plant a seed or learn how to compost. I want this book to help reconnect kids back to the soil.”

The Soil in Jackie’s Garden also helps young readers learn more about becoming environmental stewards and understanding a plant lifecycle.

“Books are a vital learning tool and can help pique student interest in a topic like agriculture,” said Jordan Bartels, Texas Farm Bureau associate director of Organization Division, Educational Outreach. “Accurate ag books available through Farm Bureau and Feeding Minds Press combine factual information with students’ love for reading and learning.”

The Soil in Jackie’s Garden can be pre-ordered on Amazon.

Feeding Minds Press is a project of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. The mission of the foundation is to build awareness and understanding of agriculture through education. The goal of Feeding Minds Press is to publish accurate and engaging books about agriculture that connect readers to where their food comes from and to who grows it.

Feeding Minds Press also offers several free printable books that focus on careers in agriculture.

View a list of accurate ag books available for purchase through Feeding Minds Press.

Click here for additional ag in the classroom resources from Texas Farm Bureau.