Publishers Weekly
01/29/2024
Wearing a weather-worn apron and pulling her shopping cart, a grandmother makes the trek from the top of her apartment tower in southwest China to a busy market. Passersby look on as she “does things that may seem funny or strange,” including opting for damaged produce left behind by market vendors. What they don’t know is that Granny finds a use for everything as she, in an impressive solo effort, grows a rooftop garden from scratch. Expressive colored pencil illustration gives life to the vegetables as Granny sees them (“my gorgeous, chubby veggie children”). At harvest time, Granny enthusiastically shares her abundance with neighbors and shows off her cooking prowess as well, whipping up a farm-to-table feast for guests before sending them home with the bounty. Wei’s whimsical vegetable-studded spreads complement rhythmic text in this buoyant, character-driven debut. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author’s note concludes. Ages 4–8. (Jan.)
From the Publisher
Wei’s whimsical vegetable-studded spreads complement rhythmic text in this buoyant, character-driven debut.” – Publishers Weekly
[STAR] "This heartwarming tale is one to share and treasure." – Bookpage (starred)
[STAR] "In this exquisite debut inspired by her childhood and a precious elder, Wei lovingly cultivates a picture book that captures Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan province, with expressionistic folk art and vibrant, textured colored-pencil illustrations... Readers with a green thumb will admire Granny's passion for giving back to the community while living happily and healthily in green spaces." – Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred)
“Dynamic.. love sprouts from the pages of this charming picture book.” – Foreword Reviews
“Bursting with vibrant color and detail… the poetic translation from the Chinese is spiced with flavorful language and occasional rhyme… readers will relish this joy-filled soul who sows with enthusiasm and reaps a bounty of love to share with all.” – Booklist
“Inspiring and delicious.” – Kirkus
“This charming book for younger readers pays homage to a grandmother and her ingenuity in using the roof of her apartment block to grow her own produce… Dynamic pencil drawings fill every inch of the page with color and life, and a partially rhyming, always playful text oozes with wonder at one person’s ability to transform an often-forgotten space into food for the good of herself, the environment, and her whole community.” – Words Without Borders
Kirkus Reviews
2023-10-21
An eccentric elderly Chinese woman keeps a garden on the roof of her building, enriching the lives of everyone around her.
Granny, who lives in a busy city in southwest China, visits the market but takes only the leftover produce no one wants. She rushes up the stairs to the roof, feeds her chickens with the damaged vegetables, and composts the rest. She tends to her many plants and vegetables, her “gorgeous, chubby veggie children,” each with distinct personalities (eggplants are “quite shy,” while "hot-tempered" chili peppers “quarrel all the time”). Colored-pencil drawings capture Granny’s vivacious energy in a variety of compositions, while stylized human forms with no necks and solid bodies create whimsy. Translated from Chinese, the poetic text, which sometimes rhymes, is full of rich sensory imagery and vocabulary (“cucumbers drizzled with fragrant vinegar, / Tofu stewed with wood ear mushroom”), though some phrasing is awkward (“Who’s over there, crying and throwing a fit?”). Granny is a role model for sure, but such a self-actualized elderly character may not resonate with young readers. Nevertheless, her enthusiasm is contagious as she grows her food, cooks up a storm for her family and neighbors, and finally sends everyone home with a “pre-filled reusable bag” of healthy food.
Inspiring and delicious. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-8)
