LINH'S ROOFTOP GARDEN

A family brunch would not be complete without homegrown blueberries!

In this fourth title in Brown-Wood’s Where in the Garden? series, Linh, a young Asian girl, is on a mission to find blueberries in her thriving rooftop garden for a small gathering. Along the way, she passes by a variety of different warm-weather produce, from gooseberries to tomatoes, peaches, strawberries, and more. Are they blueberries? No! Blueberries are “small, blue, and round in shape with a thin skin that can be eaten.” The characteristics of each fruit and vegetable are compared with those of blueberries, encouraging readers to examine the similarities and differences. In depicting the produce before it is harvested, the book also prompts children to draw connections between familiar fruits and vegetables and their origins. Hardy’s vibrant use of colors and the textured layers of hand-painted ink and watercolors add an enticing quality to the fresh produce. The lush garden is teeming with life, with birds, worms, and insects scattered throughout for children to discover. Just in time for the family brunch, Linh finds the blueberries and shares them with a diverse cast of characters, whom readers may recall from previous titles. The book ends with a delicious blueberry and banana pancake recipe, inviting readers to make their own brunch. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A charming garden-to-table experience.