Wong, Jack. All That Grows. Jack Wong, Illus. Groundwood, 03/2024. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-1-77306-812-1. GRADES Preschool–2. LOW ADDITIONAL.
A pair of tan-skinned, dark-haired siblings journey through a neighborhood landscape in early summer. The older sister, a gardener, shares plant knowledge while the younger wonders. The white of the paper effectively contrasts with the velvety, pastel illustrations. But the text fails in its aspiration to cultivate patience and let knowledge grow. None of the child’s internalized questions are answered. For an imprint dedicated to reflecting the experience of Indigenous peoples it is startling, and unremarked, that all but one of the plants mentioned are non-native and half are highly invasive. Cultural knowledge is eschewed and sentimental imagining is centered, as when the child dreams of a tree house in a little forest while reluctantly weeding out Norway maple seedlings. Not mentioned is one reason Norway maples are despised is their weak structure; a tree house in one would be a death trap. While the older sister’s knowledge is accurate, again and again the text fails to provide the younger character with fruitful questions that might inspire readers and help convert wonder into knowledge.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired