Popcorn is often one of life’s great mysteries when you are very young. This book helps kids understand where popcorn comes from and how it explodes into being, all the way from planting seeds to enjoying a bowlful. The rhyming text is short and harder words (e.g., pericarps) are featured in bold and explained, and are included in the back matter as well. The illustrations feature an inclusive group of young children learning to make popcorn. The drawings are colorful and usually include fun perspective shots of the children and the popcorn. This book also includes activities in the back. These activities include growing your own popcorn and creating your own “popcorn sheep.” The back matter also features a page that goes a little more in-depth scientifically on how popcorn is made, with photos of an actual kernel of popcorn in stages of ­popping. VERDICT A perfect book to expand nonfiction story times.