Nearly every fruit and vegetable, from tomatoes and potatoes to melons and mangoes, comes from seeds. Every year, farmers plant millions of seeds to grow crops, and not just for people, either. Animals couldn't provide meat, milk, and eggs without them.

Rich soil is just as important for food making. Bacteria munch away on dead insects and leaves, recycling nutrients as they eat. Earthworms snack on what's left over and leave behind precious fertilizers, and the tunnels they dig allow water and air to filter in.

Then the sun takes over and things really get going—and growing.

Follow the fascinating journey from seedling to dinner table in this smart, easily digestible account of where food comes from and how it grows.