Good things

Title:

Good things

Author:

Summary:

Malcolm loves everything about his dad, "Pops"; the way he looks out for everyone in the neighborhood; the way he always seems to know the right thing to say, and especially, the way he cares for his plants. Malcolm has dreamed of having plants that will grow as big and healthy as Pop’s but making that into a reality is turning out to be much harder than he thought. To keep him going, Pops reminds Malcolm that "Good things take time." But when Pops unexpectedly passes away, and his plants are left to Malcolm; Malcolm feels like there is too much responsibility on his shoulders and hurt in his heart. -- Amazon.

Audience:

Ages 4-8 years. Razorbill.

Physical Description:

32 pages (unnumbered) : chiefly illustrations, color ; 26 cm

Genre:

Picture books.

Subject Term:

Fathers -- Death -- Juvenile fiction.

Parents -- Death -- Juvenile fiction.

Plants -- Juvenile fiction.

Death -- Juvenile fiction.

Author(s):

Harris, Alleanna,

Publisher:

Razorbill,

Publication Date:

2023

ISBN:

9780593403648

Publication Information:

New York : Razorbill, [2023]

Call Number:

P GREENE

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003677872	New Picture Books	GREENE	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

From Plant Doctor Maryah Greene, as seen on Good Morning America , Vogue and The Cut , comes a beautiful and necessary picture book about a little boy who loses his father and pays homage to his life through the growth and love of plants.

Malcolm loves everything about his dad, "Pops"; the way he looks out for everyone in the neighborhood; the way he always seems to know the right thing to say, and especially, the way he cares for his plants. Malcolm has dreamed of having plants that will grow as big and healthy as Pop's but making that into a reality is turning out to be much harder than he thought. To keep him going, Pops reminds Malcolm that "Good things take time." But when Pops unexpectedly passes away, and his plants are left to Malcolm; Malcolm feels like there is too much responsibility on his shoulders and hurt in his heart.

With Good Things , Maryah Greene tells a tender and honest story about loss, hope and memory. While gorgeous and colorful illustrations by Alleanna Harris bring this world to life.

Author Notes

Maryah Greene is a New York based, Japan-bred Plant Stylist & Consultant. She is a graduate from the Bank Street College of Education mastering General Education and Literacy. Much like her plants, Maryah knows what it's like to start from seed and has no intention of stopping anytime soon. Good Things is her first book.

You can find Maryah on Instagram @greene.piece and TikTok @greenepiece.

Alleanna Harris is an illustrator and artist from Willingboro, New Jersey. She graduated from the University of the Arts in 2015 with a BFA in Animation and is inspired by the beauty in everyday things. Her previous books include such titles as Making Their Voices Heard- The Inspiring Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe, Patricia's Vision- The Doctor Who Saved Sight, and The Journey of York- The Unsung Hero of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Visit her online at alleannaharris.com and on Instagram @alleannaharris.

Reviews (1)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 1--4--Pops always had a saying for everything, and Malcolm learns how true "good things take time" is when he has to care for Pop's houseplants after he dies. If houseplants were more of a standard picture book subject, the opening dialogue about them wouldn't feel so disorienting, but as it stands words and phrases such as "variegated" and "fenestrations" are not only unfamiliar, but don't have clear pictures to convey their meaning to picture book readers. Then, just as children begin to grasp that the book is about a houseplant-loving dad, it becomes a story of grief. The sense of belonging and community is strong in Harris's illustrations of this Black family and neighborhood, but the suddenness of Pops being "gone" (a picture of Malcolm in a suit and a hearse seen through the window is the clue he has died) without any explanation may leave readers confused and distracted. As much as books about death and grief are needed, this text underlines rather than undermines our cultural taboos against speaking of the topic forthrightly. Back matter includes a fun (and much needed) glossary that explains all of the plant words, but the joking tone is at odds with the rest of the book. VERDICT Poignant and helpful to specific readers and situations, this book is not generally recommended.--Hillary Perelyubskiy