Planting hope

Gardening provides a youth the opportunity to cultivate hope in Joseph and Kellam's sensitive story. Young Henry "could never seem to get his little plant to grow," despite support from his mother, who's so skilled that "she once grew an entire orchard to help feed people who were hungry." When a long-term illness keeps his mom indoors, her garden becomes "droopy, weak, and sad," despite Henry's efforts to keep it watered. Things look dire until a neighbor connects the child with the power of positive thinking. Henry begins telling his plants "I believe in you," and their recovery presages that of his mother. Painterly backlit digital renderings embrace verdure inside and out, while dialogue-driven and emotion-laden narration point to the healing that can arise from nurturing. Characters are portrayed with brown skin. Ages 5--8. (Mar.)

K-Gr 3--Henry's family loves plants and gardening, but his plants never seem to grow. When he asks his mom for help, she tells him that the plants need to have hope and encouragement to grow. Henry doesn't really believe her, because she's been gardening all her life and the plants have always grown well for her. But one day, Henry's mom gets sick, and she's not able to garden. The plants around her start to suffer, and Henry must find a way to offer the plants and his mom hope. The brightly colored artwork is a perfect complement to the joyful, positive message of the book. The metaphor of needing hope to grow and thrive is a strong theme that will resonate with readers. This could also be the inspiration for a science project with plants and variables of sun, water, temperature, and positive intent. All characters have various shades of brown skin. VERDICT A vibrant picture book, this would be a good selection for libraries, with a celebration of hope that is always welcome.--Debbie Tanner

When his mom gets sick, Henry must learn a lesson in hope to help the garden flourish. Henry's mother's been a gifted and giving gardener ever since she was young. Henry doesn't seem to share her green thumb, and despite her encouragement to keep believing, his little plant refuses to grow. Henry becomes frustrated, but everything changes when Mom falls ill and misses many days in the garden. Plants droop in their pots and lose their petals. But a special trip with a trusted neighbor reinforces his mother's message of hope and spurs Henry to reflect on his attitude and what it means to show someone you believe in them. A heartwarming ending that acknowledges the power of optimism and hard work will empower young readers. Kallam's lush visuals are saturated with movement and emotion; mirroring Henry's mood, they lose their vibrancy and color when his mother becomes sick. The characters' large, bright eyes and colorful details make them as ornate as the garden flowers; Henry's mom is even depicted as a life-giving tree in one scene. No specific illness or ailment is mentioned, allowing readers in a variety of situations to see themselves in Henry's shoes. Henry and his family present Black. A radiant tale that will inspire little ones to stay positive even amid hardship.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.