Elinor Wonders Why: Backyard Soup

Elinor learns how plants survive in a hot and dry climate in this fourth picture book based on the popular TV series.

Elinor loves making her famous backyard soup for her friends and parents. It’s made with vegetables from her garden: peas, potatoes, cauliflower, carrots and radishes. Everyone loves it! So when Elinor visits her grandparents in Desert Town, she decides to make backyard soup for them, too. But when she goes to collect the ingredients from her grandparents’ garden, Elinor doesn’t see any of the usual vegetables. Instead, she finds peppers, beans, squash and even cacti! Why don’t the vegetables that grow in her garden grow in Desert Town?

Elinor’s inquisitiveness leads her to discover how different types of plants grow in different climates. Using observation and exploration, and by making connections, Elinor learns about desert plants and their needs. This book is a perfect accompaniment to elementary lessons on plants and the many environments they grow in. Its entertaining story and endearing animal characters encourage curiosity and teach scientific skills. It’s part of the picture book series based on the hit PBS KIDS TV show Elinor Wonders Why, created and produced by Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson and nominated for two Daytime Emmys. Back matter features science facts, a key vocabulary word and a fun activity.

Jorge Cham is an engineer-turned-cartoonist, writer and producer. He is the creator of the web comic strip Piled Higher and Deeper (PHD Comics), which he started as a graduate student at Stanford University. Together with Daniel Whiteson, Jorge created and produces the PBS KIDS series Elinor Wonders Why. Jorge and Daniel have also co-written two books for adults, We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe and Frequently Asked Questions About the Universe, and they host the podcast Jorge and Daniel Explain the Universe on iHeartRadio. Jorge’s debut middle-grade series, Oliver and the Great Big Universe, is forthcoming from Abrams. Jorge lives in California.

Daniel Whiteson is a professor of physics at the University of California, Irvine. Together with Jorge Cham, Daniel created and produces the PBS KIDS series Elinor Wonders Why. Daniel and Jorge have also co-written two books for adults, We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe and Frequently Asked Questions About the Universe, and they host the podcast Jorge and Daniel Explain the Universe on iHeartRadio. Daniel lives in California.