Even though "The Almond Orchard", by Laura Jane Coats, does not mention California by name (except in the cover flap and "thank you" remarks) it is definitely a book about one of this state's most important agricultural crops. Coats first wrote of almond farming during her grandmother's era. In both text and pictures, Coats described the different jobs her grandmother's family carried out to take care of their acres of orchards. She also included information about how the almonds were marketed in the early 1900's. The second part of the book described almond production in modern times when the author inherited the family orchard. This is a wonderful and warm picture book which will teach fourth graders about the history of almond production in California. ( )