Jack Wong's inviting All That Grows highlights the magical mysteries of the plant world, revealed through a young boy's observations while accompanying his wiser, older sister on neighborhood walks. "She tells [him] lots of things": about magnolias smelling like lemon cake, the variable nature of fruits on quince trees, how daffodils are perfect for Mother's Day ("after rinsing off the dirt, of course"). The sister invites the boy to help take care of her garden, where he notices the "hard work" of distinguishing the new vegetable sprouts from unwanted weeds. When his sister "gives up on an especially bad patch," the boy takes it as his own, "watering it to see what grows." Intertwined with the boy's admiration is a healthy dose of independent questioning: "I wonder why only some plants are called vegetables," he ponders, "when my sister says you can eat the greens of a wild dandelion."
Wong (The Words We Share) returns to using pastels here, creating glorious vibrancy and depth reminiscent of his 2023 debut, When You Can Swim. His spreads masterfully showcase diverse viewpoints. A nesting bird far atop a Norway maple watches the siblings below while the boy gazes wondrously upward. A close-up of fiddleheads "look a bit like curled-up caterpillars." The siblings' shadows loom over white blooms on the left-hand page while the opposing illustration zooms out to show the duo contemplating what that plant might be. With every page-turn, Wong's exquisite synchronicity of words and art create a welcoming wonderland to explore and appreciate. --Terry Hong