Review: Growing Home

Written by Beth Ferry

Illustrated by The Fan Brothers

New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025. Fiction. 261 pages.

This book has some entertaining characters! We get to read about Toasty, the goldfish who loves to eat cheese puffs, Ivy, a plant with magical powers, and Arthur, the spider who ends up with a broken leg. Jillian is the main human character in the book. She loves Toasty and Ivy, and would probably love Arthur, too, but she doesn't know about him....yet. Her parents own an antique shop, but they are facing some economic hardship.

This charming story is about magic, teamwork, and friendship. I loved that there were all kinds of shenanigans happening. While we are on a journey where the fish, the plant, the spider, and the girl are working to solve one mystery after another, the author beautifully guides us to the realization that words are powerful, friendships can heal hearts, and books have their own magic power to help in all kinds of situations. I was cheering for everyone to come away with a victory!

If you need a little magic in your life, or just want an enjoyable story about friendship, I recommend this book! The delightful artwork in the book adds a lovely touch to an already fabulous book. I think this book be a great springboard for discussions on problem-solving, friendship, and kindness.

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