GROWING HOME, by Beth Ferry (Author), Terry Fan (Illustrator), Eric Fan (Illustrator), Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, May 27, 2025, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 6-9)
A team of talkative plants, a curious spider, and a grumpy goldfish use their magical abilities to defend their family from a greedy human in Growing Home, by Beth Ferry and the Fan brothers.
Ivy is the beloved houseplant of young Jillian Tupper of Number 3 Ramshorn Drive, much to the constant dismay of Toasty the goldfish, who is technically the family pet—swimming in his special place of honor, the antique octagonal fish tank—and should be the most loved. It seems that’s how the cookie (or cheese puffs, in Toasty’s case) crumbles in the curious Tupper household, but soon a sequence of thrilling and magical events challenges that way of life forever.
First, there’s the arrival of Arthur, a knowledgeable spider with a broken leg and a curious mind, hidden in an old typewriter. Then Jillian throws everyone for a loop when she brings home dear, sweet Ollie, a school houseplant who just wants to be friends and sing. When Toasty splashes the plants with his tank water out of frustration, the friends learn that they can do magical things—like lift heavy objects and turn things invisible!
It turns out Toasty’s fishtank isn’t just for fish; it was made by a curious inventor who gave it special powers that, in the wrong hands, could disrupt everything forever. And a curious man with purple shoes just so happens to want that tank at any cost. Can Ivy, Toasty, Arthur, and Ollie grow to be friends in time to work together to save their beloved Tupper family from utter ruin? —Synopsis provided by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Growing Home is a charming lower middle-grade novel that’s full of imagination and whit.
The story centers around Toasty, Ivy, Ollie and Arthur, a mismatched group that magically can talk to each other. Each has a distinct and delightful personality that bring life to a story that is a joy to read aloud.
Author Beth Ferry’s text is warm and comfortable. And her use of more advanced vocabulary works well, as the words are often defined within the text.
Black-and-white illustrations by the Fan Brothers feature lovely, soft edges and add interest throughout.
Growing Home is divided into a prologue and three parts containing a total of 71 chapters. This helps break up the just over 250 pages, making what looks like a longer book feel much shorter. Kids will feel a sense of accomplishment after finishing this one. It moves quickly, and there’s a lot of wholesome fun.
Copyright © 2025 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.
