Grow by Jess McGeachin
Grow is not the sort of book you would automatically buy for a child you did not know well. It is more considered than that.
This is a book for the child who notices things. The one who wants to know why moss grows in one place but not another, how trees become so tall, or why some plants survive in conditions where others would not. A parent or grandparent who enjoys gardening may see its appeal straight away, particularly if the child already shows an interest in the plants, fungi and trees around them.
Jess McGeachin introduces many different forms of growth, from coral and seaweed to succulents, lichen and towering trees. The illustrations are detailed and inviting, while the gentle rhyming text gives younger readers an easy way into the subject.
It creates curiosity without trying to answer every question. For some children, that may be their greatest strength. They can look closely, ask questions and return to the pages to find something they missed the first time. For others, particularly those who prefer a strong story or clear answers, it may feel less immediate.
This is what you might call a thinking child’s book. It does not rush, simplify everything or fill every page with noise. It expects the reader to pause and wonder.
Librarians will love it because it can be used in several ways. It works as a book to read together, a starting point for classroom discussion, or a prompt to head outside and look more closely at what is growing nearby.
For the right child, Grow would be a thoughtful and delightful purchase. It may not suit every young reader, but for an inquisitive child interested in the natural world, it could become a book they return to often.
