CCBC booklist are compiled from books we have recommended in various editions of CCBC Choices. Most of these booklists are updated annually. You can also select books from one or more booklists to create a custom list, which can also include additional books from the CCBC-Recommended Book Search.
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Growing Home
CCBC Review:
Mr. and Mrs. Tupper, who own an antique store, live with their daughter, Jillian, at Number 3 Ramshorn Drive. But in this story, the human characters (all white) take a backseat to the other residents of Number 3: Toasty, a grumpy goldfish, and Ivy, an ebullient houseplant. Toasty resents Ivy, who is talkative and rather full of herself, for being Jillian’s “favorite,” but Toasty tolerates Ivy because she fetches him cheese puffs, which he loves. When a brainy spider named Arthur arrives at the house in an antique desk, closely followed by a second potted plant, Ollie, the social dynamic shifts. Ivy begins to realize that she has a lot to learn about friendship. She also discovers that she and Ollie have magical abilities caused by splashes of water from Toasty’s antique octagonal fish tank. As it turns out, the tank is one of two magical items designed by one Augustus Octothorpe; the other is a birdcage that Mr. Tupper has acquired and is restoring. When an underhanded buyer realizes the Tuppers have no intention of selling the items to him, he breaks into the Tuppers’ home to steal them—and is met with the well-orchestrated countermeasures of Toasty, Ivy, Ollie, and Arthur, who have come together to protect themselves and their home. Cleverly plotted, charming, and satisfying, this standalone novel has a cozy, old-fashioned feel and delightful illustrations. Who knew houseplants could undergo such profound emotional growth? ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Terry Fan, Eric Fan
CCBC Age Recommendation: 6-10
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Animals (Fiction)
Cooperation
Fantasy
Friendship
Magic
On CCBC Booklists:
Fantasy for 8 to 12 Year Olds: Giants, Journeys, and Other Imaginings
Family Read-Alouds
Publisher:
Simon & Schuster
Publish Year: 2025
Pages: 261
ISBN: 9781665942485
CCBC Location: Fiction, Ferry
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Our Recommended Book Search includes access to CCBC-recommended titles based on subject headings created by our staff.
Please send questions or comments about CCBC booklists to ccbcinfo@education.wisc.edu.