Sprouting Stories: Plants & People in Picture Books

The following books are in Sprouting Stories: Plants & People in Picture Books, on view in the Reading Library from August 7 - December 29, 2024.

Growing Gardens

Anywhere Farm, by Phyllis Root, illustrated by G. Brian Karas, Candlewick Press, 2017.  

The Extraordinary Gardener, by Sam Boughton, Tate Publishing, 2018. 

How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood: Harlem Grown, by Tony Hillery, illustrated by Jessie Hartland, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2020. 

In a Garden, by Tim McCanna, illustrated by Aimée Sicuro, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2020. 

Jayden’s Impossible Garden, by Mélina Mangal, illustrated by Ken Daley, Free Spirit Publishing, 2021. 

Lala’s Words, by Gracey Zhang, Orchard Books, 2021. 

Ojiichan’s Gift, by Chieri Uegaki, illustrated by Genevieve Simms, Kids Can Press, 2019. 

Planting a Rainbow, by Lois Ehlert, Clarion Books, 1988. 

The Ugly Vegetables, by Grace Lin, Charlesbridge, 1999. 

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal, Chronicle Books, 2015. 

The Wall and the Wild, by Christina Dendy, illustrated by Katie Rewse, Lantana Publishing Ltd., 2021. 

In the Garden! 

Bumpety Bump!, by Pat Hutchins, Greenwillow Books, 2006. 

If You Plant a Seed, by Kadir Nelson, Balzer + Bray, 2015. 

Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!, by Candace Fleming, illustrated by G. Brian Karas, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2002. 

Imaginary Gardens 

The Imaginary Garden, by Andrew Larsen, illustrated by Irene Luxbacher, Kids Can Press, 2009.

Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden, by Christy Mandin, Orchard Books, 2024.

Miss Maple’s Seeds, by Eliza Wheeler, Nancy Paulsen Books, 2013. 

The Night Gardener, by The Fan Brothers, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2016. 

Plant Protagonists 

Bloom Boom!, by April Pulley Sayre, Beach Lane Books, 2019. 

The City Tree, by Shira Boss, illustrated by Lorena Alvarez, Clarion Books, 2023. 

Goodnight Veggies, by Diana Murray, illustrated by Zachariah OHora, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020. 

Have You Ever Seen a Flower?, by Shawn Harris, Chronicle Books, 2021. 

Lemon Child, by Nele Brönner, NorthSouth Books, 2020. 

A Seed Grows, by Antoinette Portis, Neal Porter Books, 2022.  

Seeds Move, by Robin Page, Beach Lane Books, 2019. 

Tap the Magic Tree, by Christie Matheson, Greenwillow Books, 2013. 

The Tiny Seed, by Eric Carle, Little Simon, 1987. 

Trees, by Lemniscates, Candlewick Studio, 2015. 

Weeds Find a Way, by Cindy Jenson-Elliot, illustrated by Carolyn Fisher, Beach Lane Books, 2014. 

The World’s Best Class Plant, by Liz Garton Scanlon & Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2023. 

Rooted Stories  

Berry Song, by Michaela Goade, Little, Brown and Company, 2022. 

Can You Hear the Plants Speak?, by Nicholas Hummingbird & Julie Wasson, illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight, Harper, 2024. 

A Crown for Corina, by Laekan Zea Kemp, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri, Little, Brown and Company, 2023. 

A Family Tree, by Staci Lola Drouillard, illustrated by Kate Gardiner, Clarion Books, 2024. 

Flowers for Sarajevo, by John McCutcheon, illustrated by Kristy Caldwell, Peachtree Publishers, 2017. 

Fresh Juice, by Robert Liu-Trujillo, Lee & Low Books, 2023. 

Just Ask: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You, by Sonia Sotomayor, illustrated by Rafael López, Philomel Books, 2019. 

Like a Dandelion, by Huy Voun Lee, Balzer + Bray, 2021. 

Nell Plants a Tree, by Anne Wynter, illustrated by Daniel Miyares, Balzer + Bray, 2023. 

The Rough Patch, by Brian Lies, Greenwillow Books, 2018. 

The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver, by Gene Barretta, illustrated by Frank Morrison, Katherine Tegen Books, 2020. 

Seeds of Change, by Jen Cullerton Johnson, illustrated by Sonia Lynn Sadler, Lee & Low Books, 2010. 

The Wakame Gatherers, by Holly Thompson, illustrated by Kazumi Wilds, Lee & Low Books, 2007. 

Watercress, by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Jason Chin, Neal Porter Books, 2021. 

When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree, by Jamie L. B. Deenihan, illustrated by Lorraine Rocha, Union Square Kids, 2019. 

Online Resources   

KidsGardening | Gardening activities for children

Children & Nature Network | Resources for supporting childhood connection with the outdoors

USDA: Kids in the Kitchen | Resource list for engaging children with cooking, food and nutrition