GROWING TOGETHER

A diverse group of gardeners work together to cultivate a bountiful harvest.

A tan-skinned child invites readers to join the many neighbors lending a hand in the community garden. Spiro’s text rhymes with a bouncy beat, using plain language and concise phrasing to explain how to plant, tend, and harvest plants. This garden is rife with delicious offerings—Swiss chard, peas, mint, and beets that “can’t be beat”—and readers are encouraged to volunteer their own favorites. On nearly every spread, friends and neighbors are depicted tending garden beds together in groups of two or more. Little garden lovers will enjoy the variety in Escobar’s illustrations, some showing the bountiful garden in full, others zooming in on small details, like underground roots. Characters vary widely in terms of age, gender, skin tone, and ability, creating a welcoming community, diverse in people and plants, where everyone’s efforts are valued. Consider this tale a fun springtime read-aloud for older toddlers or preschoolers to kickstart discussions about gardens, the plants we eat, and the importance of working together as a team.

A sunny celebration of community, teamwork, and cooperative gardening along with its delectable rewards.