Scott, Jordan. My Baba’s Garden. Sydney Smith, Illus. Neal Porter, 03/2023. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-8234-5083-1. GRADES Kindergarten–4. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Soft watercolor and gouache illustrations accompany lyrical prose about a child’s relationship with their grandmother. The characters are depicted as white, with an author’s note explaining that the grandmother (Baba) is from Poland and that the story takes place in Canada. The author’s note, placed on the first page of the book, gives important context about the language barriers between the child and grandmother which are only hinted at in the text. The child’s voice is realistic, noting details of their life with childlike wonder and making connections in the manner of a curious kid. A love letter to the grandparent-grandchild relationship, this book will be especially meaningful to readers with immigrant grandparents.
Lillian Whithaus—Oakland Public Library