Manny harnesses love, determination, and a visit to the library to care for his first plant and make his gardener father proud.Manny comes from a long line of gardeners, and to him, the greatest gardener of all is his dad. Dad always knows what plants need. Even with no yard to garden in, he tends their small apartment into a lush jungle.
One day, the time comes for Manny to get his very own first plant! Dad trusts Manny to care for his new amigo, and Manny is determined to rise to the challenge. But watching Dad’s masterful work isn’t the same as knowing everything he knows, and Manny’s amigo keeps wilting, no matter what he tries! Dad would know what to do, but this is Manny’s plant, and he wants to be the one to save it.
Luckily, before his new amigo, Manny had another friend: the library! A day of research and a stack of books gets him back on track in no time. Manny’s plant grows bigger and bigger, until his room overflows with beautiful, healthy leaves, plentiful enough for Dad to share cuttings with the whole neighborhood. Now Manny can proudly say that he is the youngest in a long line of gardeners.
Longtime illustrator Matthew Rivera makes his authorial debut with a story that will warm every green-thumbed heart. Any child with an older role model whose shoes they dream of growing into will delight in Manny’s success and his zest for independent trial-and-error.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Matthew Rivera grew up in Arizona, and worked for many years as an art director for agencies, large corporations and toy companies. He now lives in Portland, Oregon and is an author and illustrator of books for children. He can be found working at his desk with a large cup of coffee, while Mavis, his pet rabbit, yanks his shoelaces for extra greens.
"Rivera’s use of colors, textures, and shapes gives a lively look to this inviting picture book."
—Booklist "[A] sunny problem-solving tale."
—Publishers Weekly "The story is sweet and direct, and Manny is an utterly relatable Everykid whose struggles with a new responsibility will ring especially true for readers just beginning to take on new roles at home and school."
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books "Celebrates family roots as well as the pleasure of cultivating, and sharing, new skills."
—Kirkus Reviews
