RICHMOND—Children across the commonwealth will examine greenhouse gardening and discover the unique qualities of popular fruits and vegetables during Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom’s 2024 Agriculture Literacy Week.

For Virginia AITC’s annual volunteer reading event March 18-22, the organization has selected Logan’s Greenhouse by JaNay Brown-Wood as its 2024 Book of the Year.

Cheerfully illustrated by Samara Hardy, the book follows Logan, a young boy who uses a wheelchair and accessible gardening tools, as he organizes a playdate at his greenhouse for his friends. Throughout the book, readers use visual clues to learn all about the unique characteristics of the fruits and vegetables Logan grows in his greenhouse.

“We were looking for an inclusive and interactive story about growing food,” explained Tammy Maxey, Virginia AITC executive director. “Everything but one crop featured in the book is grown in Virginia. It’s a good opportunity for students to see and relate to something they may be able to grow here.”

The book even features a winter carrot soup recipe for young readers and adults to make and enjoy together.

Agriculture Literacy Week is AITC’s largest educational event of the year, with thousands of volunteers reading to children in classrooms, libraries and virtually across Virginia. Now in its 13th year, the program combines fun and education to help teach youth about the importance of agriculture, farming and the sources of their food and fiber.

Copies of Logan’s Greenhouse are available for purchase at $14 each from Virginia AITC. A book order form is located on the Virginia AITC website, virginia.agclassroom.org.

In addition to the book, orders will include free supplementary resources to expand school and at-home learning. These include seeds for children to plant, volunteer reading tips, coloring pages and other free activities.

Volunteers are encouraged to read Logan’s Greenhouse to children in pre-K through third grade. Virginia AITC also will share highlights on its social media platforms throughout the week.

During 2023’s reading event, more than 1,000 volunteers read I Love Strawberries! by Shannon Anderson to about 60,000 children throughout Virginia.

Agriculture Literacy Week participants include county Farm Bureau volunteers; Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership and Young Farmers committee members; FFA and 4-H members; partners from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and other state agencies; and members of other agricultural organizations and businesses. Colonial Farm Credit, Farm Credit of the Virginias and Southern States Cooperative Inc. have been supporters as well.

Media: Contact Maxey at 804-290-1143.