All That Grows

The story to remind you that spring is around the corner, All That Grows by Jack Wong is a book about plants and discoveries.

Two siblings work together to tend a cultivate their garden. Through leading questions, the younger sibling discovers new things about gardening and also begins to understand that there is always something new to learn about the plants all around us.

Jack Wong writes from the heart of a younger sibling. The questions throughout the story are so typically younger sibling and it was wonderful to witness the patience of the older sister in the story, always ready to share her knowledge without getting annoyed by all of the questions. I love how this story will inspire readers to learn more about the plants in their own communities and perhaps learn what can be foraged. The Bear and The Bee go through fazes of wanting to know what plants are edible so that we can try them without getting sick. It even inspired us to make a plan go down to our local food forest in the spring to learn about the plants there and taste some too!

All That Grows is an important book to share with readers in this age of climate change and environmental impacts so that they can learn to appreciate all of the things that grow in their communities, including the so called weeds. It’s a lovely reminder that when we look around we can cultivate goodness from the ground right in our own backyards and on our balconies with a simple seed.

The illustrations are gorgeous. Also by Jack Wong, the pictures transport readers to springtime planting. Warmth radiates from the pages and the two page spreads full of colour lend themselves perfectly to sharing this book with a large group.