Watermelon Bellies

Emeka and Amaka discover a new liking for gardening and take it seriously. Gardening teaches them patience, responsibility, thoughtfulness, and the love for nature. They get excited about harvesting their watermelons, and develop business ideas from growing watermelons. Unfortunately, they discover they won't be able to develop their business ideas, or ever get to back to school because they accidentally swallowed the watermelon seeds they were supposed to plant. All attempts to solve their problems prove unproductive, and they are in a fix. They decide to talk about their big problem with Mom. Mom helps them understand the difference between fact and opinion, and everything goes back to normal.

As children are exposed to the world, they come across facts and opinions without knowing it. Being able to reason and think through ideas, is a step in the right direction for problem solving. Also, being able to talk to someone when difficult problems are encountered, is important for emotional well-being. Watermelon Bellies dispels the scary myth about plants growing in bellies. The colorful illustrations tell the story to early readers, and the uncolored illustrations can be used for extended activities. As you enjoy reading the story, try and find an unusual friend that loves watermelons too.