Joy Takes Root

By Gwendolyn Wallace, Ashleigh Corrin (Illustrator)

A young girl discovers mindfulness and herbal wisdom in her grandmother's garden.

4.1/5 Goodreads · 145 ratings

32 pages

$18.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Joy spends her first summer in her grandmother's South Carolina garden, where she learns the secrets of nature. Guided by Grammy, Joy discovers the healing power of herbs and the art of mindfulness. As she listens to the earth's heartbeat, Joy begins to understand her connection to the world around her. Will she be able to nurture her own garden and honor her grandmother's teachings? This intergenerational tale invites readers to explore the magic of nature and the wisdom passed down through generations.

From the publisher

In her grandmother’s garden, a young Black girl learns about mindfulness and herbal medicine in this soothing intergenerational story about our connection to nature. It’s Joy’s first summer in her grandmother’s South Carolina garden–a rite of passage. In the midst of okra, spinach, and strawberries, Grammy teaches Joy that plants are friends with many uses. Herbs, for example, can be turned into medicine. There in Grammy’s abundant backyard, Joy learns to listen for the heartbeat of the earth and connect it to her own as she takes deep breaths and puts her intentions into the soil. By the story’s end, she learns to grow seeds in her own garden, honoring all that her grandmother taught her. With sensory-rich illustrations from award-winning illustrator Ashleigh Corrin, Joy Takes Root is a blissful reminder of all that might bloom.

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