Jackson Free Press

As an elementary librarian at Woodville Heights Elementary in south Jackson, I get the opportunity to share books with kids on a plethora of topics. They keep me on my toes, and I never know what questions or comments will come bursting from their little noggins.

I recently read, "How Did That Get in My Lunchbox?," written by Christine Butterworth and illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti, to one of my first-grade classes. The book is a colorful behind-the-scenes look at how food makes its way into kids' lunchboxes--because food doesn't grow in grocery stores. Afterward, we went out to look at the garden the kids maintain with the help of Martha Jenkins from the National Women in Agriculture. During our time together, we had a lively discussion about the book, food, gardens and superheroes.

I asked: What might you find in a lunchbox?

They said: Underwear. (Terrell, age 7)

I asked: If you were a food superhero, what would you be?

They said: Bananahead Man. He can shoot bananas at you. (Tiearra, age 6)

I asked: What's the funniest thing that has happened to you at lunch?

They said: A food fight. We were throwing food at each other. (Elzy, age 6)

I asked: What was your favorite part of the book?

They said: The cookies, because I learned how they make chocolate chips. (Gabrielle, age 7)

I asked: What did you learn from the book?

They said: About apples--they grow in trees. (Chase, age 6)

I asked: What do you do when you go out to work in the garden?

They said: We plant seeds. We dig up mud. It's fun! (Simya, age 7)