Off to the Nursery: A Celebration of Gardening, Plants and Seasons
Alice Oehr. Scribble US, $18.95 (30p) ISBN 978-1-957363-96-7
A child speaker and their mother enthusiastically acquire plants for a garden in Oehr’s vibrantly rendered picture book, second in the “Off to” series. With garden beds weeded and compost in place, the duo arrive at the nursery with a plan and promptly begin shopping, “but there’s always room for some surprises.” They pick up tomato plants for pasta and pizza sauce, seedlings for grillable veggies, then set about finding herbs, lettuce seeds, succulents, a blueberry bush, mini-citrus trees, native Australian flowers, and much more. Advice-filled text on the verso cheerfully
narrates the decision-making process, while illustrations spotlight additional flora, with captions equal parts playful and informative: “Cherries grow on a tree (and you can wear them as earrings).” Pop coloring enlivens the sunny unlined renderings in a bountiful work that will help to make choosing plants feel within reach. Characters are portrayed with various abilities and skin tones. Ages 5–8. (Apr.)
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Reviewed on: 01/30/2025
Genre: Children's