Today nonfiction author extraordinaire, Melissa Stewart, is stopping by Kid Lit Frenzy to talk about her upcoming 2018 title with National Geographic. I had a chance this summer to get a sneak peek at the book and it is beautiful. Of course, I loved the inspiration for this book.

From Melissa:
Meet seeds that pop, hop, creep, and explode in this lyrical introduction to plant growth and seed dispersal. Stunning photographs and fact-packed text showcase the role of seed features and functions in creating a new generation of plants. Complete with an illustrated glossary, resources, and an index, A Seed Is the Start inspires wonder as it encourages budding botanists of all ages to look with new eyes at plants and their seeds.

The idea for this book came from this pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/142215300703510403/?lp=true

I was amazed by the stunning close up photos of seeds and wanted to know why they have so many unusual shapes. After doing some research, I discovered that a seed's shape has a lot to do with how it disperses. Seeds can be transported by wind, water, or hitching a ride on an animal's fur. Some even hop or creep along the ground.

I was fascinated, and I knew kids would be, too. I also knew that this topic cried out to be photo illustrated, so I wrote up a proposal with some sample spreads and sent it to my editor at National Geographic. Since National Geographic is well known for it's world-renowned photo collection, I was sure it would be the best publisher for this book.

Luckily, my editor was as excited as I was, and I soon had a contract. I'm so excited that this book will be entering the world in Spring 2018.

And here is the cover...