CCBC Booklists

CCBC Review:

Grace enjoys helping her white-haired neighbor, Larry, with his garden. While they work, he talks about what he’s doing and why, sharing his years of gardening experience. Not surprisingly, Larry is a teacher. Every year he gives his each of his students a tomato seedling to nurture, and then requires that they give the plant to someone else, accompanied by a letter explaining why they are doing so. When a new neighbor builds a security fence that blocks the sun from Larry’s garden, Grace applies what she’s learned from Larry. She gives the neighbor a packet of seeds with a letter that explains the best way to feel safe is to have friends. And then she helps him turn his fence into a trellis so that her gift of bean seeds will have something to climb. Warm gouache and colored pencil paintings illustrate an appealing story of building community that was inspired by a real classroom teacher who gives his students heirloom tomato plants each year to grow and then give away. Grace has light brown skin; Larry is white. ©2021 Cooperative Children’s Book Center

Illustrated by Kass Reich

CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 4-7
Age Range: PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Format: Picture book
Subjects: Friendship Gardens and Gardening Generosity Older Adults Teachers/Mentors
Diversity subject: Brown Skin Unspecified
On CCBC Booklist: School Stories: Selected PreK-12 Literature about the School Experience 

Publisher: Kids Can
Publish Year: 2020
Pages: 32
ISBN: 9781525301087
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Alary

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