Avocado Magic - by Taltal Levi (Hardcover)

About the Book

Both small and full of life, Ellie and a new avocado plant grow up together.

Book Synopsis

"A tender and cozy tribute to the magic of growing up." -Kirkus Reviews

Avocado seeds and slow growing! A young girl's impatience turns to wonder as she and her avocado tree gradually change and grow in this story inspired by Israeli artist Taltal Levi's childhood.

A Bank Street Best Book of 2025

Ellie is sulking--she celebrated her birthday yesterday under the old avocado tree. But she's not even a little bit taller today! Dad tells Ellie a secret. She is like the pit of an avocado, he explains, small and full of magic. Together they put an avocado seed in a glass of water by the window and watch as both Ellie and her avocado plant grow, take root, and eventually bring new life.

In Taltal Levi's native country Israel, avocados are ubiquitous and plucked straight from the tree. In her third book, Taltal Levi uses warm, earthy colors to tell a personal yet universal story about the magic of growth.

Includes instructions for growing your own avocado tree!

Review Quotes

"First published in Switzerland, this colorfully illustrated picture book is equally expressive in portraying Ellie's high hopes and her deep disappointment. Kids can observe her growth and changes in her life in the colorful illustrations."-- "Booklist"

"Illustrations, with hues alternating between earthy and a green/yellow palette, underscore themes of growth and change and are replete with whimsical details to delight eagle-eyed readers! [...]A poignant and lovely volume, this one is recommended for all collections."-- "School Library Journal"

"The story will be meaningful for adults and children alike, a lesson on both the day-to-day steadiness of growth and the overwhelming speed with which life moves forward. Serving as a touchpoint for Ellie and readers, a rhyming refrain emphasizes that change takes time. The soft illustrations convey a sense of growth through luscious greens and other bright hues. The careful blending of colors makes the images feel warm and alive."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

The highly relatable feeling of being invisible, the little girl's independence, and the loving conclusion all add up to a satisfying picture book. -Susan Dove Lempke, The Horn Book, on Meet Me By The Sea--Susn Dove Lempke "The Horn Book on Meet Me By the Sea"

The joyful pencil illustrations are colored mainly by pleasant yellows and greens, giving a springy exuberance to the shenanigans on display, and the partnership between the protagonist and the cat is all love, fueled by fun. Young listeners will delight in the miniature perspective, while adult readers may feel the bittersweet tug of childhood nostalgia.
-Booklist, on A Little Courage-- "Booklist on A Little Courage"

It's not everyday that a book makes me cry. This is one of them. I was initially drawn to the illustrations, which are beautiful, and the fact that it's about avocados, my favorite. But the story is what really hooked me. It's about a little girl named Ellie, who is impatient to grow. Through growing her own avocado plant she learns patience. I definitely just pre-ordered it as I need it to be a part of my library.--Chelsea G. "Seattle Public Schools"

About the Author

Taltal Levi was born in the Galilee, Israel. She graduated from Lucerne University of Arts and Design with a degree in illustration fiction and has worked as a freelance illustrator since. In 2019 she was nominated for the Serafina Young Talent Award with her picture book debut A Little Courage. Taltal Levi works and lives in Basel, Switzerland.