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The World's Best Class Plant

Author Audrey Vernick, Liz Garton Scanlon
Illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao
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Hardcover
$18.99 US
Penguin Young Readers | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
8.88"W x 11.25"H x 0.35"D   | 14 oz | 24 per carton
On sale May 30, 2023 | 40 Pages | 9780525516354
Age 3-7 years | Preschool - 2
Reading Level: Lexile AD710L | Fountas & Pinnell M
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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.
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
Audrey Vernick View titles by Audrey Vernick
© Sam Bond
Liz Garton Scanlon is the author of nearly 20 beloved picture books, including All the World, which received a Caldecott Honor and which School Library Journal called "perfection" in a starred review. Her other picture books include I Want a Boat! and Thank You, Garden, as well as the upcoming The World's Best Class Plant (May 2023.) Scanlon is on the faculty of the Vermont College of Fine Arts and is a frequent and popular presenter at schools, festivals and conferences. She lives in Austin, Texas. Bibsy Cross is her first chapter book. View titles by Liz Garton Scanlon
Lynnor Bontigao hails from one of the more than 7,600 islands of the Philippines. She is the illustrator of You Are Revolutionary by Cindy Wang Brandt and the forthcoming The World's Best Class Plant by Audrey Vernick, and Sari-Sari Summers, which she wrote and illustrated. A member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the winner of the 2020 SCBWI Tomie dePaola Professional Development Award, Lynnor Bontigao lives in New Jersey with her family. View titles by Lynnor Bontigao

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About

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.

Praise

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

Author

Audrey Vernick View titles by Audrey Vernick
© Sam Bond
Liz Garton Scanlon is the author of nearly 20 beloved picture books, including All the World, which received a Caldecott Honor and which School Library Journal called "perfection" in a starred review. Her other picture books include I Want a Boat! and Thank You, Garden, as well as the upcoming The World's Best Class Plant (May 2023.) Scanlon is on the faculty of the Vermont College of Fine Arts and is a frequent and popular presenter at schools, festivals and conferences. She lives in Austin, Texas. Bibsy Cross is her first chapter book. View titles by Liz Garton Scanlon
Lynnor Bontigao hails from one of the more than 7,600 islands of the Philippines. She is the illustrator of You Are Revolutionary by Cindy Wang Brandt and the forthcoming The World's Best Class Plant by Audrey Vernick, and Sari-Sari Summers, which she wrote and illustrated. A member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the winner of the 2020 SCBWI Tomie dePaola Professional Development Award, Lynnor Bontigao lives in New Jersey with her family. View titles by Lynnor Bontigao

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