As the animals gather at their favorite blackberry shrub young readers begin to understand the value of one plant – it’s a one-plant-treats-all shrub in Terry Pierce’s picturebook, Blackberry Banquet.
Told in a cumulative rhyme that builds with each animal until the bear appears, beginning readers will have fun predicting and repeating the cute verses.  There is a place in the forest where plump, sweet purple berries hang shining bright with dew as if waiting for someone to tempt.  “Taste my berries and I’ll feed you” although it doesn’t state that the animal will unknowingly spread the seeds across the land. That is something readers learn later in the educational activities found through Sylvan Dell Publishing’s online resources and the For Creative Minds at the end of the book.

Back at the dangling blackberry, the juicy drupelets are found by a munching mouse who gives a merry sigh, “Squeak! Mmm-mmm!”  A short time later a bluebird lights among the prickly branches and sings, “Squeak! Mmm-mmm!”  Of course a snacking squirrel wanders into the thick brambles for a taste, “Slurp! Mmm-mmm!”

The next visitor might surprise children unless they’ve seen their dogs eating blackberries. A fox strolls over and adds his “Yip!” to the cumulative verse. Soon after, a deer appears to chomp on the shrub and we have all of their voices declaring delight with the forest feast until the blackberry-hungry bear appears and they all run away to watch.

This educational book’s fast flowing verse is fun to read but it also supports kindergarten through second grade animal community and food web science lessons and learning standards. For Creative Minds provides information on the blackberry plant and ways humans eat blackberries.  A colorful diagram maps all of the story’s animals in a visual web that helps children see the plant-animal relationships. The author explains that plants are called producers and that animals are consumers. Very simple descriptions describe primary, secondary and tertiary consumers as well as omnivores and decomposers.  My only concern is that the story doesn’t really differentiate between the levels of consumers and young readers could easily assume they were all herbivores.  It’s up to the teacher, or the parent who might be reading this story, to help them make the connection.

Plant and animal dependence and relationships are further described in the back and at www.SylvanDellPublishing.com related websites provide age-appropriate resources on wild blackberries and all of the vocal animals in this charming little story.  As usual their signature online resources include additional teaching activities, alignment to standards, and quizzes.

Lisa Downey’s illustrations are child-friendly, cute and simple. I recommend this for teachers/librarians in primary grades or parents with children intrigued by forest animals. This charming science teaching tool will please teachers and the surprise ending will delight young readers who will giggle with pleasure unaware that they just learned some valuable lessons about food webs.

As always I thank Sylvan Dell Publishing for providing the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Recommended: Yes