My Baba's Garden

By Jordan Scott, Sydney Smith (Illustrator)

A boy and his grandmother bond through gardening, bridging language and time.

4.3/5 Goodreads · 619 ratings

32 pages· 674 words· Est. 6 min read-aloud

$18.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

A young boy and his grandmother, Baba, share a special bond in her garden, communicating beyond words. As they nurture plants, they also nurture their connection, shaped by Baba's past and her love for food. When Baba moves in with the boy's family, roles shift, offering him a chance to care for her. This heartfelt tale explores the enduring ties of family and the unspoken language of love, inviting readers to reflect on the cherished moments that define us.

From the publisher

The bond between a child and his grandmother grows as they tend her garden together. A young boy spends his mornings with his beloved Baba, his grandmother. She doesn’t speak much English, but they connect through gestures, gardening, eating, and walking to school together. Marked by memories of wartime scarcity, Baba cherishes food, and the boy learns to do the same. Eventually, Baba needs to move in with the boy and his parents, and he has the chance to care for her as she’s always cared for him. Inspired by memories from poet Jordan Scott’s childhood, with beautiful, dreamlike illustrations by Hans Christian Andersen Award-winning illustrator Sydney Smith, My Baba’s Garden is a deeply personal story that evokes universal emotions. Like Scott and Smith’s previous collaboration I Talk Like a River, winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, My Baba’s Garden lends wistful appreciation to cherished time with family. A Charlotte Zolotow Honor BookA New York Public Library Best Book of the Year A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of the YearA School Library Journal Best Book of the YearA Horn Book Fanfare BookA Booklist Editors’ ChoiceA Junior Library Guild Gold Standard SelectionAn Evanston Public Library Great Book for Kids

At a glance