Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault Perfect Picture Book Friday

The fascinating true story of the development and construction of the vault that holds the worlds' seeds.

text copyright Megan Clendenan, 2025, illustrations copyright Brittany Cicchese, 2025, Charlesbridge

Seeds are vital to life, and this informative picture book tells the story of a seed bank in Norway that plays backup to the roughly 1,700 other seed banks all around the world. Sometimes, seed banks are destroyed by war or weather. When that happens, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault comes to the rescue with extra seeds to replace those which were lost.

Through breathtaking illustrations and lyrical language, this gorgeous picture book details the effort it took to plan and build the vault that stores the world's seeds. Many of the spreads contain sidebars with cleverly phrased information that support the text and extend learning opportunities. Additionally, the comprehensive back matter at the end of the book makes this an ideal resource for classroom instruction or at-home learning. 

Title:  JUST IN CASE: SAVING SEEDS IN THE SVALBARD GLOBAL SEED VAULT

Author:  Megan Clendenan

Illustrator:  Brittany Cicchese

Publisher:  Charlesbridge

Ages:  5-8

Themes:  Protecting the environment, Seeds, Nature, Cause-and-effect

Here are a few activities that align with the themes in this book:

• Collect an assortment of seeds. Sort them, and compare the seeds you've sorted. Click here for a seed sorting activity.
•  Choose a seed that you would like to plant. Plant the seed and watch it grow. In a journal, draw pictures or write about what you observe. 
• Grow an assortment of seeds--flowers, fruit, and vegetables. Compare and contrast the sprouts. Which ones sprout quickly or slowly? Which ones grow tall or short?
• Pair with A Seed is Sleepy (Aston/Long, Chronicle Books, 2014) and It Starts With A Seed (Knowles/Webber, Words & Pictures, 2017).
• Conversation starters: "Which seeds are most important to you and your life now? Why?"  "What is one possession that you have that is worth protecting? How do you keep it safe?" "What things do seeds need in order to sprout and turn into plants?"

Looking for more perfect picture books? Check out Susanna Leonard Hill's website!