Rice is one of the world's most important cereal crops. From wild plants in Asia and Africa, to its cultivation by ancient peoples 8,000 years ago, rice has helped shape the course of history. Children will learn how rice is grown, harvested, processed, and sold. Clear, descriptive images show how rice is a vital food crop for millions of people worldwide. Topics include - What is a commodity? - What is rice? - Where did rice originate, and where is it grown today? - How rice is harvested, manufactured, and processed - Rice plantations and a history of slavery - Rice products, including rice paper - The importance of rice as a staple food crop in many poor countries - New environmentally sensitive methods of growing rice Teacher's guide available.