The World's Best Class Plant

by Liz Garton Scanlon (Author) Lynnor Bontigao (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

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.

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Hardcover
$18.99

Kirkus Reviews

Starred Review
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.

Booklist

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 . . . 

Hornbook

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.

Review quotes



Liz Garton Scanlon
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.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780525516354
Lexile Measure
710
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Publication date
May 20, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV029000 - Juvenile Fiction | Nature & the Natural World | General
JUV035000 - Juvenile Fiction | School & Education
Library of Congress categories
Pets
Picture books
Schools
Plants

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