The Carrot Seed

The Carrot Seed is a 1945 children's book by Ruth Krauss. As of 2004, The Carrot Seed has been in print continuously since its first publication in 1945.

Description

The Carrot Seed was illustrated by Krauss's husband, Crockett Johnson. At 101 words, it was one of the shortest picture book texts when it was published in 1945.

Plot

The book opens with the words: "A little boy planted a carrot seed. His mother said, 'I'm afraid it won't come up.'" A little boy plants a carrot seed to grow a giant carrot. Despite the skepticism of his parents and, particularly, his older brother, he persists and "pulled up the weeds around it every day and sprinkled the ground with water". The book concludes simply "And then, one day...! A CARROT CAME UP! Just as the little boy had known it would!". The carrot is so large that it fills a wheelbarrow. However the top is missing. The book is about not giving up no matter what anyone says, and believing in yourself.