There is so much to notice, pour over, and think about from beginning to end of this wordless story in which young, light brown-skinned, curly-haired Oscar is staying at the home of a woman in a city apartment building—presumably an aunt or grandma—after hugging his backpack-laden mom goodbye. From ways in which the passage of time is made clear—this is no single overnight—to the warmth and love that surrounds Oscar, the details emerge through the vibrant visual storytelling. On a trip to the neighborhood nursery Oscar picks out some packets of seeds, planting them in various small containers. The plants sprout over the course of coming days (the passage of time cleverly marked in a single page of 9 images). A sunflower grows taller than Oscar. Soon the apartment is bursting with so much greenery that they load up Oscar’s wagon and deliver plants to several families in their building (including, notably, a two-mom hijabi couple with a baby). At story’s end, there’s a joyful reunion between Oscar and his mom, and visible transformation marked by endpapers showing the building (Oscar’s tower) before Oscar’s garden (bare balconies) and after (balconies brimming with plants). The wonderful diversity in Oscar’s building and neighborhood is one more of many things to appreciate in this uplifting story. (Ages 3-7)

A wordless picture book for the very young—bursting with green!—celebrates community, gardening, and sharing beauty with the world.

Oscar’s mom has to go away for a little while, so Oscar is staying with his nana. He likes being with Nana in her apartment building, but he still misses his mom. One day, Nana has an idea, and together they carefully sow seeds—lots and lots of seeds! They water them and wait . . . and then the seeds start to grow and the flowers begin to bloom and there are plants everywhere. Luckily Oscar has a great idea for what they can do with the blossoms—share them! This brightly illustrated wordless picture book is full of graphic panels and sweeping spreads that evoke the urban bustle of a busy high-rise apartment and shows how each person can contribute to the spirit and vitality of a community.