Grow

by Clarion Books, Hsulynn Pang (Illustrator)

Overview

The perfect gift for new parents and sure to be a hit at baby showers! 

This loving ode to children, as they grow from tender seed to wildest vine, features lush illustrations of blossoming plants. A read-aloud book to treasure and share with growing children for years to come.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358645474
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/23/2021
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	12
File size:	52 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 Months to 3 Years

About the Author

Hsulynn Pang is lucky enough to have made a living out of what most people would call a hobby from the comforts of her home - making drawings and paintings. Born in small town Malacca, Malaysia, Hsulynn grew up with 3 brothers and enjoyed much of her childhood chasing after locusts and butterflies in her backyard, digging for earthworms and collecting seashells from the beach nearby. This is quite possibly why she finds herself painting lots of nature inspired art works rather than big tall buildings. 

Editorial Reviews

"A surprisingly sweet and sumptuous presentation."—Kirkus —

From the Publisher

2021-05-05
Poetic language describes babies and their caregivers as though they are elements in a flourishing garden, with pull-tabs that bring the garden symbolism to bloom.

Opening with the text “I waited for you like a sprout from a seed,” the book follows various babies as they grow through the stages of early childhood, all described through rhyming plant imagery. Among the children are the metaphoric “new leaf,” a blond, White baby joyfully crawling; the “bloom,” a Black child toddling under an older woman’s watchful eye, and the “blossoming wonder / an unfurling vine,” an adventurous, scootering White preschooler. Like every garden, the narrative ends cyclically, with an older child welcoming a newborn sibling; both are children of color. Men and women of various racial presentations participate in caregiving, and as they wave stuffed toys and indulgently chase toddlers, their “joy, more than you know,” is apparent. Magically nestled in the flourishing garden, the eclectically likable characters have a kitschy Mary Blair feel, with prominent apple cheeks. Tight watercolors start out in primarily muted greens but become more eye-catchingly colorful as the babies grow. Pull-tabs at the tops of pages further the garden analogy as various foliage pops up until the final page reveals vibrant red poppies, making the book look like a three-dimensional potted plant. With so many elements, the book could feel like too much, but it so intentionally revels in its floral decadence that it works.

A surprisingly sweet and sumptuous presentation. (Novelty board book. 6 mos.-5)

Kirkus Reviews