Buddy Bear's grandfather sends him five colorful bags, each with different contents and activities. The first holds glue, markers, paper, and a small sack of seeds for Buddy to sort and glue onto paper, making a seed collection. The second includes six cards showing a germinating seed. As Buddy puts them in order, Mama explains the growth process, using simple terms as well as a few longer ones, such as embryonic. The other bags contain a bird feeder, a frame to decorate with seeds, and a planter complete with dirt, seeds, and decorations. Most of the well-composed illustrations are cut-paper collages, but a page with photographs ("Buddy's Seed Collection") appears at intervals, each time displaying a larger collection of actual seeds such as corn, radish, pumpkin, apple, pear, sunflower, and strawberry. Though the fictional narrative will place this volume in library picture-book collections, it offers a good deal of information. Clearly written and brightly illustrated, this will be an appealing addition to classroom units on seeds and germination. Carolyn Phelan Copyright c American Library Association. All rights reserved