Where I Grew
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected Mar 24, 2026
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- $11.99
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- Pre-Order
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
This gorgeous, heartfelt picture book celebrates the strength and legacy of those who travel to new lands and the homes they build.
A young girl takes a walk in the forest with her grandfather and observes the animals, plants, growth, and marks of the seasons—a walk that parallels the journey her family took to put down roots and that shaped her life. Reflecting on the present, she looks to the future and the ways that she, too, will offer strength and support to generations that follow.
Jashar Awan’s spare, lyrical text is given magnificent expression in Rahele Jomepour Bell’s stunning images of nature. Where I Grew is a nuanced and lovely picture book that honors the sacrifices and strengths of people who journey to new lands and to the beautiful and enduring homes that they create.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Accompanied by an elderly caretaker, a child on a woodland walk considers their family legacy of finding home in this minimalist picture book. The exuberantly dressed protagonist—pink glasses matching a pink beret—narrates each step of the forest journey: "We come from all over.// We all took different paths." Swinging from a tree branch amid dandelion seeds, they note one way: "by air." Crossing a quiet brook represents another: "by water." A curious fox in the underbrush stands in for "with the help of fellow travelers." Upon finding a "perfect place/ To put down/ our roots," the child notes, "This is/ where/ I grew." Seasons later, as shown by a spread of tree branches in varying weather, the now-adult protagonist returns to the forest with children in tow, thinking about the journeys they will undertake. Awan's clear, unfussy first-person lines and Jomepour Bell's bold, translucent illustrations add layers to an expansively imagined portrait of building community and putting down roots. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–8.
