And Then the Seed Grew - by Marianne Dubuc (Hardcover)

About the Book

"One morning, a seed suddenly and unexpectedly appears in the garden that Jack and his friends call home. The seed starts to grow, sprouting a stem, leaves, and roots... Yvonne the mole, Colette the ant and the Field Mice family are all convinced that the seed spells disaster. As its roots continue to spread, ceilings crack and paths become unwalkable. The inhabitants of the garden make a bold decision: they are going to cut the plant down! Thankfully, Jack intervenes--what if the plant is not that bad, after all?"--

Book Synopsis

In an ordinary garden full of flowers and plants, little Jack and Mr. Gnome live above the ground, while Yvonne the mole, the Field Mouse family, Paulie the earthworm and Colette the ant live below the ground. Everybody is happy in the garden. Until one day, a new seed arrives, which soon sprouts into a plant. As the plant begins to grow (and grow, and grow), its stalk and leaves get in the way of those aboveground, and its roots disrupt the homes and passageways of those underground. Before long, the plant has gotten so large, it has become a huge problem for the garden's residents. So, the friends decided they must chop it down. Unless ... wait! What's that growing on the plant?

In this multilayered (and multilevel!) picture book, international award-winning author-illustrator Marianne Dubuc humorously explores the concept of change as the characters resist but eventually accept the new addition, an excellent example of a growth mindset. The story also highlights the interconnectivity of living things and, thus, the concept of community. Animal habitats and the growth cycle of plants --- from seed to fruit-bearing --- are presented here with easy-to-understand, child-friendly visuals. The winsome illustrations are full of clever details, offering peeks into the animals' fantastical homes, promising something new to discover with every look, and encouraging visual literacy.

Review Quotes

... beautifully illustrated ...--ABQLA

... rewarding ...--Quill & Quire

... this book is equally as much fun as it is educational.--CM Magazine

A whimsical take on a garden's busy, interconnected ecosystem.--Kirkus Reviews

It presents in simple language ... a view of the interconnectedness of the natural world, and of cooperation in a peaceful community.--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Marianne Dubuc is an award-winning author and illustrator of many books for children, including The Bus Ride, Lucy and Company and Mr. Postmouse's Rounds. Her work has been translated into more than thirty languages around the world. Marianne lives in Montreal, Quebec.

Marianne Dubuc is an award-winning author and illustrator of many books for children, including The Bus Ride, Lucy and Company and Mr. Postmouse's Rounds. Her work has been translated into more than thirty languages around the world. Marianne lives in Montreal, Quebec.