Saturdays at Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood
by Tony Hillery; illus. by Jessie Hartland
Preschool, Primary    Wiseman/Simon    48 pp.
7/24    9781665929783    $18.99
e-book ed.  9781665929790    $10.99

Mr. Tony and his student, Nevaeh, plot during the winter months how to bring their community garden in Harlem into bloom with a spring cleanup and planting party. The neighborhood shows up—people of all backgrounds, with gardening tools and flowers and seeds and doughnuts for snacking on—to work together and watch their garden grow. They add a small library, too, and just as they share their library of books, the group shares their library of knowledge, with members who have expertise in cooking, in raising chickens, in plumbing and carpentry. Hartland’s illustrations burst with color and detail, a visual feast; keen-eyed readers will notice plants growing and changing from scene to scene. The daubs of paint and visible brushstrokes give the art a tactile feel that pairs well with the vibrancy and hands-on nature of the garden. Children will enjoy the art but also likely appreciate learning (from the back matter) that the book is based on a true story and written by Mr. Tony himself. Steps to start an urban school community garden and a recipe for vegetable soup are also appended. Perfect both for a lap-sit to pore over the details and for community-garden or farmers’-market storytimes.

From the ">September/October 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.