Potatoes on Rooftops: Farming in the City

Gr 3–6—Grassroots efforts at sustainable agriculture are given a global perspective in this interesting look at the many ways people grow their food. From rooftop and container gardening to school gardens and community plots, Dyer discusses changes in traditional agriculture from victory gardens of heirloom crops to modern factory farming and hybrid produce. Protein-based food sources like eggs and fish are also included. Issues related to sustainability, such as greenhouse emissions, and fair-trade practices are also discussed, as are the psychological and health benefits of growing one's own food. The writing is both engaging and interesting as the author presents some complicated topics in an easy-to-digest manner. Many ideas for thinking outside of the box are given by presenting nontraditional means of agriculture that will be unfamiliar to many readers. The photos have an upbeat, urban feel to them and complement the text nicely. There is also a kid-friendly quality about the information, which is presented in sidebars and dialogue bubbles. In the current climate of sustainability, this title is small but mighty. A lot of relevant topics are hit on in a simple but powerful way. Not to be missed or dismissed.—Rebecca Gueorguiev, New York Public Library