Skip to main content

Member Reviews

Growing Home is an adorable book about sentient plants, pet goldfish, insects, and more! All of the creatures in this book show us how to recognize our differences with compassion and empathy and to have love for one another, as we never know what the other is going through.

Was this review helpful?

A wonderful read for those awkward middle age range when a child is struggling to “fit in”. The way the author uses a fish, plant, and a spider to bring a powerful message will help anyone connect with the story. Definitely needs a spot on my classroom bookshelf!

Was this review helpful?

This book was not my cup of tea, but I think younger readers would enjoy it. The writing style is choppy and abrupt, but the characters are enjoyable - and very unusual! There's a bit of magic and a lot of friendship and growth for the main characters. It's a quick read, so good for readers just venturing into middle grade novels.

Was this review helpful?

Growing Home is adorable and gives me Secret Life of Pets vibes. I loved all characters' voices and how they each had their own separate conflict. I think young readers are going to enjoy this one!

Was this review helpful?

Good for fans of Kate DiCamillo, this cozy story is a simple tale of friendship between the nonhuman creatures in a house. Easy to follow plot and very cute pictures make this especially accessible to younger chapter book readers.

Was this review helpful?

Growing home was SUCH a fun read. Absolutely loved the narration and how silly the story was. A great cast of characters and just a goofy story kids are going to LOVE!

Was this review helpful?

Beth Ferry’s GROWING HOME features an unlikely crew of characters who find themselves residing together in the Tupper household. Toasty, the grumpy goldfish, and Ivy, the bubbly houseplant, live with the Tuppers and their daughter Jillian. Arthur, the super smart spider, joins the mix after stowing away in an antique brought home by Mr. Tupper, and Ollie the shy violet plant comes home from school with Jillian. Despite their differences, when they realize the Tupper family is at risk, they come together to devise a plan that will rescue the family, using a splash of magic courtesy of Toasty and his unusual octagonal fish tank.
Each character in this story has a distinct, quirky personality that comes through in their actions and in their dialogue. Illustrations by the Fan Brothers perfectly complement the sweet story about friends that become family as they face challenges.

Was this review helpful?

This book was so much fun. There were so many elements that came together to make this such a special and enduring book. I really enjoyed the characters and thought it was really cool how they all had their own personalities and independence. My kids absolutely loved the pictures throughout the book and I think that it helped to really bring the story to life for them. I loved the antique part of the story as well. I think that this is a book my kids will read again in the future and enjoy even more the second time around.

Was this review helpful?

We read ‘Growing Home’ by Beth Ferry during our preschool story time, and it was an absolute hit! The children were captivated by Toasty and his friends' adventures—such a cute and fun story that kept them engaged from beginning to end. Beth Ferry does a wonderful job of connecting with young readers, weaving in vocabulary explanations naturally throughout the chapters. It’s both entertaining and educational. I highly recommend adding this charming chapter book to your classroom library!

** Thank you NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, and Beth Ferry for an eARC copy of Growing Home.

Was this review helpful?

Oh, this was such a comfort to read. This story follows two houseplants, a fish, a spider, and their journey to friendship. Though none of them are human, each character provides insight to the development of friendship, especially for this books targeted audience of younger readers. Each character has their own personality, some getting along right off the bat and others clashing. Those different personality's are what I think makes this story such a joy to read. I personally loved Toasty the most and found him a delightful character, though he appears anything but that. I was also impressed with the author's ability to carry out a plot in this short chapter book.

As always, one of the major reasons I love reading middle grade books is because majority of them have wonderful illustrations. This one is no exception. Another reason I love Toasty, beyond his personality and his name, was the illustration of him. So well done!

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Growing Home is a heartwarming and delightfully quirky middle grade story about unlikely friendships, gentle growth, and finding where you belong. Told through the eyes of a houseplant, a grumpy goldfish, and a thoughtful spider, this story balances humor with heart and sprinkles in a dash of alchemical magic. The characters are full of personality, the setting is cozy and unique (an antique store!), and the soft mystery adds just the right amount of intrigue.

The illustrations are lovely and enhance the whimsical tone of the book beautifully. A perfect pick for readers who love found family, quiet self-discovery, and cozy stories with big charm.

Was this review helpful?

This charming short chapter book is about a grumpy goldfish named Toasty, two houseplants and a spider who come to live together in the small household of the Tupper family. The Tupper family run a small store that sells used items that are sometimes worth a lot of money. There is magic afoot, with talking plants and animals, a disgruntled customer, a runaway canary and a very happy ending. It's a cozy read for young readers, with interesting characters and clever problem solving.

Was this review helpful?

Beth Ferry has created such lovable characters in this novel. Each has distinctive personality that makes the reader root for them. The plot moves well and keeps readers engaged. Children will relate to the characters' quirks and personality, recognizing them as some they may already know. The setting cleverly pulls you as the story unfolds -- unique enough to be interesting with real emotion pull. It's definitely a feel good kind of read where everyone learns something.

Was this review helpful?

Be still my little heart! I LOVED this. I thought it was so captivating and informative for little readers. I loved the way new vocabulary words were introduced so seamlessly in the story. The characters Ivy and Toasty are so lovable and a perfect Odd Couple duo that had me giggling out loud multiple times. I am so glad I read this and absolutely will recommend this to many young library patrons that want something a little magical that has a lot of heart.

Read it!

Was this review helpful?

I have long been a fan of Beth Ferry's picture books. In Growing Home, she creates a story with strong and delightful characters. The plot has a wonderful, yet unexpected suspenseful twist near the end. The Fan Brothers illustrations were the cherry on top! The beautiful illustrations help young readers visualize the characters and important pieces of the story. The owl on page 175 is reminiscent of the owl in The Night Gardener. I would highly recommend this book to my readers!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. I had heard a lot of good reviews and looked forward to reading it. The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry which is illustrated by the Fan Brothers is one of my favorite picture books and I hoped that they could make the transition to a book for older readers. The illustrations are amazing. The Fan Brothers really bring this diverse cast of characters to life which is hard to do when you are working with a vain ivy, a grouchy goldfish, an intelligent spider, and a shy violet. At first, I was not a fan of the characters, but they grew on me as they developed, especially Ivy and Toasty. It’s magical in more ways than one. As an adult and librarian I love how vocabulary is introduced with support. I think it’s a great story that both adults and children can appreciate and see it being a welcome addition to the library.

Was this review helpful?

What a cute story! I read this with 7-year-old and we had the best time. Loved the fantastical elements to ordinary items. Grumpy Toasty was our favorite. My daughter laughed so much reading it and it’s a perfect beginner chapter book.

Was this review helpful?

I received an electronic ARC from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
Ferry teaches readers about friendship and family using rather unusual characters - a fish, two plants and a spider. Toasty the fish and Ivy the plant have lived with the Tupper family for quite some time and have established a tolerance for each other. Then, Ollie arrives as a surprise, and Arthur comes via an antique purchase by the Tuppers. Elementary level readers will appreciate the humor and serious undertones as they learn more about each character and the humans who also happen to live in this house. Even the scary moments are handled with sensitivity and light adventure. The short chapter format will appeal to mid to upper elementary readers as they can read this in one sitting or over several days. The story is divided into three parts - Beginning, Middle, End. Fun section titles and a nod to what readers are learning about composing their writing as well.

Was this review helpful?

Super cute book that my students will enjoy. The illustrations are a bonus. The 4 main characters (Toasty, Ivy, Arthur and Ollie are completely mixed matched but their unique personalities make them a perfect “quartet”.
These characters learn what it means to be a true friend and ultimately a found-family.
The funny jokes, puns added to this story!
My only negative is I wanted more interaction with Jillian, their human.

Was this review helpful?

I love this chapter book! This sweet story by Beth Ferry about friendship should go into every children’s library, and with the cheery illustrations by the fan brothers, children will be captivated. Whimsical writing and fun characters create a tale that reinforces kindness and caring.

Highly recommended for families and educators!

Was this review helpful?