Before there was bread, there was wheat. A type of grass used to make bread, wheat was one of the first plants to be cultivated by farmers. The growing of wheat as a staple food source made permanent settlements possible, particularly for settlers moving west. It also inspired the creation of early trade networks. In this fascinating new book, children will learn how one of the world's most important food crops is grown, harvested, sold, and processed into food products. Topics explored include - how the world's population grew with the advent of wheat-growing societies - how farming inventions such as the plow, seed drills, and the tractor increased crop yields - how sea bird droppings were used as the first fertilizer in the 1800s - how the wheat farms of North America became a Dust Bowl during the Great Depression of the 1930s - how wheat is farmed and sold around the world today Teacher's guide available.