Linh's rooftop garden

Gr 3--7--In the fourth "Where In the Garden?" book, Linh goes looking for blueberries for a family brunch party. An inquisitive Asian child, she sorts through what she knows about blueberries and compares those qualities to what she finds on the rooftop garden. Readers learn what is a blueberry and what is not; they learn what is a gooseberry, and what is not, what are the characteristics of a tomato, broccoli, and more. Linh cheerfully scours the garden treats and finally finds blueberries that she happily takes to brunch, which includes friends from the previous books. Linh's journey as she searches is methodical, straightforward, and full of descriptive words for children to try out; the story is compelling and educational as well. The illustrations, with realistic layers of the fruits, allow them to be lifelike, and an author's note includes recipes. VERDICT A solid addition to this series, and wonderful for most children's gardening or botanical shelves.--Annmarie Braithwaite

A family brunch would not be complete without homegrown blueberries! In this fourth title in Brown-Wood's Where in the Garden? series, Linh, a young Asian girl, is on a mission to find blueberries in her thriving rooftop garden for a small gathering. Along the way, she passes by a variety of different warm-weather produce, from gooseberries to tomatoes, peaches, strawberries, and more. Are they blueberries? No! Blueberries are "small, blue, and round in shape with a thin skin that can be eaten." The characteristics of each fruit and vegetable are compared with those of blueberries, encouraging readers to examine the similarities and differences. In depicting the produce before it is harvested, the book also prompts children to draw connections between familiar fruits and vegetables and their origins. Hardy's vibrant use of colors and the textured layers of hand-painted ink and watercolors add an enticing quality to the fresh produce. The lush garden is teeming with life, with birds, worms, and insects scattered throughout for children to discover. Just in time for the family brunch, Linh finds the blueberries and shares them with a diverse cast of characters, whom readers may recall from previous titles. The book ends with a delicious blueberry and banana pancake recipe, inviting readers to make their own brunch. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A charming garden-to-table experience. (Picture book. 2-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.