The World's Best Class Plant - by Audrey Vernick & Liz Garton Scanlon (Hardcover)

About the Book

A class that is terribly disappointed in their lack of a class pet discovers that having a class plant is the best thing ever.

Book Synopsis

An irresistible picture book about a boy and his classmates who long for a class pet, but discover the joys and rewards of nurturing a class plant.

Room 107 has a cockatiel. Room 108 has a chinchilla. Even the Art Room has a bearded dragon. But in Room 109, Arlo's classroom, there is a plant. A mostly green, hardly growing, never moving plant. Even though it doesn't squeak, whistle, or whimper, Arlo's teacher says the plant is "more than enough excitement for us." But what could possibly be exciting about a plant?

One day, Arlo decides to name the plant Jerry. Something about naming the plant makes it more exciting. As the class learns to take care of Jerry, he starts to grow . . . greener and longer and twistier. And before long it's clear that something amazing has taken root in Arlo's classroom.

Review Quotes

Praise for The World's Best Class Plant
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices Selection

* "Laden with humorous charm, this wise, beautifully written story delivers some plant knowledge, fosters empathy for a living thing, and promotes cooperation . . . This book will genuinely grow on readers." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "A 'mostly green, hardly growing' spider plant provides classroom 109 with a lesson about keeping an open mind in this amiable botanical picture book . . . An encouraging picture of students blooming intellectually and emotionally through care." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"This laugh-out-loud, earnestly lovely picture book about a class plant who grows into his full potential is a must-read--preferably aloud--for classrooms and young readers who might be skeptical about plants . . . This is an adorably fun read with great classroom appeal and just the right amount of real plant information to keep kids interested in the humor and fun but still leave them intrigued by plants. The soft realism of Bontigao's illustrations, naturally full of lots of greenery, brings in the eye and will keep readers moving around the page to discover new joys." --Booklist

"Scanlon and Vernick bring humor and an ear for the dialogue of elementary-school classrooms to this lively text . . . Bontigao brings a diverse group of students to these pages and captures bustling elementary classrooms with details and precision." --The Horn Book

About the Author

Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick have collaborated on three previous picture books: Five Minutes (That's a Lot of Time) (No, It's Not) (Yes, It Is), which was one of NPR's Favorite Books of the Year; Bob, Not Bob!; and Dear Substitute. Liz is the author of numerous beloved picture books, including the Caldecott Honor book All the World, and Audrey has written more than twenty books for young readers, including the critically acclaimed Brothers at Bat. Visit Liz at lizgartonscanlon.com and Audrey at audreyvernick.com.