We Are Growing!
Written and Illustrated by Laurie Keller

Publisher’s Summary:
Walt and his friends are growing up fast! Everyone is the something-est. But . . . what about Walt? He is not the tallest, or the curliest, or the silliest. He is not the anything-est! As a BIG surprise inches closer, Walt discovers something special of his own!

Primary Source Pairing:
You will be the SMARTEST teacher librarian when you pair this image of a field of grass with the book We Are Growing! For this primary source pairing, use a photograph taken by Carol Highsmith, a famous American photographer who donated her work to the Library of Congress. Highsmith documented America and the world through her photography. For some students, seeing a field of grass may be a daily experience. For others, a field of grass may be as foreign as the ocean or desert.

For a science extension project, plant wheatgrass seeds in a shallow glass or plastic dish or cup and study the quick growth of the blades of grass. Use a science journal for these observations. For a writing extension, attach talk bubbles to popsicle sticks and invite students to write their own dialogue in the tone of the blades of grass in We Are Growing!

Questions for Discussion:

• What do you notice first?
• What is the physical setting?
• What’s happening in the image?
• Find something small but interesting.
• What do you notice that you didn’t expect?

Credits:
Book Cover and Summary: Follett
Field of Grass Photograph taken by Carol Highsmith: Library of Congress
Carol Highsmith Photograph Collection: Library of Congress