Grandma's roof garden

An energetic urban granny cultivates a rooftop garden in her own quirky, independent fashion. She exults as her chickens and geese feast on wilted produce rescued from market stalls and cheers on the exuberant growth of her own feisty (and talkative) veggies. After she cheerfully distributes overflowing baskets of her garden bounty to neighbors, she welcomes her own large family to a magnificent feast. Even after all have savored her splendid dishes, leftovers abound--some packed to send home with guests, some prepped for Granny's next breakfast. Odd she may be, but everyone loves this spirited granny. Bursting with vibrant color and detail, the distinctive art by the debut author-illustrator pops with lively gestures and idiosyncratic characters. The poetic translation from the Chinese is spiced with flavorful language and occasional rhyme. An endnote describes how the author's own inventive, ever-active Apo inspired this loving portrayal of an effervescent free spirit--readers will relish this joy-filled soul who sows with enthusiasm and reaps a bounty of love to share with all.

Wearing a weather-worn apron and pulling her shopping cart, a grandmother makes the trek from the top of her apartment tower in southwest China to a busy market. Passersby look on as she "does things that may seem funny or strange," including opting for damaged produce left behind by market vendors. What they don't know is that Granny finds a use for everything as she, in an impressive solo effort, grows a rooftop garden from scratch. Expressive colored pencil illustration gives life to the vegetables as Granny sees them ("my gorgeous, chubby veggie children"). At harvest time, Granny enthusiastically shares her abundance with neighbors and shows off her cooking prowess as well, whipping up a farm-to-table feast for guests before sending them home with the bounty. Wei's whimsical vegetable-studded spreads complement rhythmic text in this buoyant, character-driven debut. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author's note concludes. Ages 4--8. (Jan.)

An eccentric elderly Chinese woman keeps a garden on the roof of her building, enriching the lives of everyone around her. Granny, who lives in a busy city in southwest China, visits the market but takes only the leftover produce no one wants. She rushes up the stairs to the roof, feeds her chickens with the damaged vegetables, and composts the rest. She tends to her many plants and vegetables, her "gorgeous, chubby veggie children," each with distinct personalities (eggplants are "quite shy," while "hot-tempered" chili peppers "quarrel all the time"). Colored-pencil drawings capture Granny's vivacious energy in a variety of compositions, while stylized human forms with no necks and solid bodies create whimsy. Translated from Chinese, the poetic text, which sometimes rhymes, is full of rich sensory imagery and vocabulary ("cucumbers drizzled with fragrant vinegar, / Tofu stewed with wood ear mushroom"), though some phrasing is awkward ("Who's over there, crying and throwing a fit?"). Granny is a role model for sure, but such a self-actualized elderly character may not resonate with young readers. Nevertheless, her enthusiasm is contagious as she grows her food, cooks up a storm for her family and neighbors, and finally sends everyone home with a "pre-filled reusable bag" of healthy food. Inspiring and delicious. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.