The Little Spice That Smells Like Fall: How a from Indonesia Became Scent of Autumn

What if the scent of American autumn began on tiny tropical islands thousands of miles away?When Ellie helps Oma bake pumpkin bread on a crisp autumn day, one little spice fills the kitchen with a familiar warm, sweet scent: Nutmeg. This small, brown spice has a surprisingly big story. Long before nutmeg found its way into pumpkin bread and American autumn traditions, it grew on the Banda Islands of Indonesia-the only place in the world where nutmeg grew naturally for centuries. So valuable was this little spice that European powers sailed across oceans and struggled for control of the islands where it grew.From the tropical shores of Indonesia to the island of Run, from Dutch and English ships to colonial New York and the Treaty of Breda, Ellie follows nutmeg on an extraordinary journey across oceans and through history-until its story leads all the way back to Oma's autumn kitchen. The Little Spice That Smells Like Fall: How a Spice from Indonesia Became a Scent of Autumn is a beautifully illustrated nonfiction picture book that introduces young readers to the fascinating history behind an ordinary spice.Perfect for curious children, families, classrooms, and homeschoolers interested in: - American and colonial history - Indonesia and the Banda Islands - the historic spice trade - food history and where our food comes from - geography and world history - fall and autumn read-alouds - discovering the extraordinary stories hidden in ordinary things