cover image See Marcus Grow

See Marcus Grow

Marcus Bridgewater, illus. by Reggie Brown. Penguin/Paulsen, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-593-40607-6

Bridgewater spotlights the positive power of greenery in this children’s debut. As young Marcus’s grandmother offers upbeat instruction in gardening basics, the pair draw parallels between human and plant needs, including “water and air and sunshine. And space to grow.” Working with mangoes, tomatoes, pineapples, and cilantro, the duo model attentiveness to nature, with Grandma observing that “plants grow better when you show them love.” Dialogue-driven lines frequently convey an exuberant tone, as when the pair prepare to plant a mango seed (“Wait! You can eat it and grow it, too?”), while Brown’s texturized digital artwork centers Marcus’s evident glee as a budding gardener, amplifying the story’s message of nurturing curiosity and supporting growth across species. An author’s note concludes. Ages 3–7. (May)