This year’s selection is See Marcus Grow  written by  Marcus Bridgewater, also known as social media sensation, Garden Marcus,  and illustrated by Reggie Brown.

See Marcus Grow is a vibrant picture book that introduces young readers to the wonders of gardening while exploring themes of curiosity, discovery, nurturing and growth. In this story, the young character named Marcus learns from his grandmother in her garden. The book beautifully illustrates the parallel between plant care and human development, sharing the wisdom that both children and seedlings need “water and air and sunshine. And space to grow.”

“Grandma’s favorite place is her garden. It seems like she could stay there forever! Marcus wants to know why–so they set about exploring it together. From shells protecting seeds (like Marcus’s helmet protects his head!) to a small seed eventually growing into something big (also just like Marcus!), there are so many amazing connections to be made in this wonderful place. Day after day, Marcus delights in realizing how much he has in common with the plants–he drinks water every day, too, and he gets haircuts just like the plants get pruned. As his grandma says, there’s a whole world to explore in a garden, and Marcus likes thinking about it as a playground for all the snails, birds, bugs, and worms. And one of its many beauties is the bounty they are rewarded with after all the love and care they pour into it!”