June 29, 1999

Holly Evans launches vegetable seedlings into space as part of her science project. The experiment is meant to study the effects of extra-terrestrial conditions on vegetable growth. Strange events begin occurring weeks later when enormous vegetables start appearing in the skies across North America. The vegetables float down from above, causing wonder and confusion among the people below. As the mystery of the giant produce continues, the story follows both Holly's perspective and the reactions of various communities encountering these unusual phenomena. The illustrations show both close-up views of individual scenes and sweeping landscape shots of the floating vegetables. This picture book explores themes of scientific curiosity and unexpected outcomes, while playing with scale and perspective in ways that challenge readers' assumptions about cause and effect.

Readers appreciate the imaginative illustrations and surreal premise of giant vegetables floating across the sky. Many note how the book captivates children's attention and sparks discussions about science experiments. Parents and teachers report using it to introduce scientific method concepts. Readers highlight: - Detailed watercolor artwork - Humorous touches in background scenes - Scientific vocabulary integration - Open ending that encourages discussion Common criticisms: - Plot feels incomplete - Text is minimal compared to illustrations - Some find the concept too bizarre - Price high for length Ratings: Goodreads: 4.13/5 (2,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (90+ ratings) One teacher noted: "Students love finding tiny details in each reading." A parent reviewer mentioned: "The ending left my kids unsatisfied and confused." The book receives particular praise from educators who use it to teach prediction and observation skills in science lessons.

Flotsam by David Wiesner A wordless picture book follows a boy who discovers an underwater camera that reveals impossible photographs of fish-filled worlds.

Tuesday by David Wiesner A picture book chronicles mysterious events on a Tuesday night when frogs rise on their lily pads and float through town.

The Red Book by Barbara Lehman A wordless story connects two children through a magical book that serves as a portal between their worlds.

Journey by Aaron Becker A girl draws a door with a red crayon and steps into an adventure through imaginary realms filled with flying machines and lanterns.

Free Fall by David Wiesner A boy's dream transforms his bed into a series of surreal landscapes where leaves become boats and chess pieces come to life.

🌟 David Wiesner created June 29, 1999 entirely without words, letting his surreal and whimsical illustrations tell the complete story 🥬 The giant vegetables floating through the sky were inspired by Wiesner's childhood memories of watching clouds and imagining what shapes they resembled 🏆 The book won the Rhode Island Children's Book Award in 1994 and helped establish Wiesner's reputation for innovative picture books 🚀 The main character Holly Evans's science experiment involves sending vegetable seedlings into the atmosphere using weather balloons - a technique actually used by scientists to study plant growth in varying conditions 🎨 Wiesner spent months researching and perfecting the perspective and scale needed to make giant produce look realistic as it drifted over recognizable landscapes and cities