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Children's Fiction Humorous Stories

Growing Home

by (author) Beth Ferry

illustrated by Terry Fan & Eric Fan

Publisher
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Initial publish date
May 2025
Category
Humorous Stories, Fishes, Insects, Spiders, etc.
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781665942485
    Publish Date
    May 2025
    List Price
    $23.99

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Where to buy it

Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels

  • Age: 6 to 9
  • Grade: 1 to 4
  • Reading age: 6 to 9

Description

A motley crew of talkative plants, a curious spider, and a grumpy goldfish use their newfound magical abilities to defend their family from a greedy human in this charming middle grade novel from New York Times bestselling author Beth Ferry, with illustrations from the award-winning Fan brothers.

Ivy is the beloved houseplant of young Jillian Tupper of Number 3 Ramshorn Drive, much to the constant dismay of Toasty the goldfish, who is technically the family pet—swimming in his special place of honor, the antique octagonal fish tank—and should be the most loved. It seems that’s how the cookie (or cheese puffs, in Toasty’s case) crumbles in the curious Tupper household, but soon a sequence of thrilling and magical events challenges that way of life forever.

First, there’s the arrival of Arthur, a knowledgeable spider with a broken leg and a curious mind, hidden in an old typewriter. Then Jillian throws everyone for a loop when she brings home dear, sweet Ollie, a school houseplant who just wants to be friends and sing. When Toasty splashes the plants with his tank water out of frustration, the friends learn that they can do magical things—like lift heavy objects and turn things invisible!

It turns out Toasty’s fishtank isn’t just for fish; it was made by a curious inventor who gave it special powers that, in the wrong hands, could disrupt everything forever. And a curious man with purple shoes just so happens to want that tank at any cost. Can Ivy, Toasty, Arthur, and Ollie grow to be friends in time to work together to save their beloved Tupper family from utter ruin?

About the authors

 

BETH FERRY lit et écrit près de la plage, dans le New Jersey. Elle est l’auteure de nombreux albums dont Stick and Stone, classé au palmarès du New York Times et illustré par Tom Lichtenheld, et Land Shark, illustré par Ben Mantle.

 

Beth Ferry reads and writes by the beach in New Jersey. She is the author of many picture books, including the New York Times bestseller Stick and Stone, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld and Land Shark, illustrated by Ben Mantle. You can find out more at bethferry.com.

Beth Ferry's profile page

 

 

Terry et Eric Fan aussi connus sous le nom The Fan Brothers (frères Fan),ont étudié les arts à l'Ontario College of Art and Design, à Toronto. Ils utilisent des techniques traditionnelles et numériques pour réaliser leurs illustrations. Le jardinier de la nuit, leur premier album illustré, a été acclamé par la critique.

 

Terry Fan received his formal art training at Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto. His work is a blend of traditional and contemporary techniques, using ink or graphite mixed with digital. He spends his days (and nights) creating magical paintings, portraits, and prints. Together with his brother Eric, he wrote and illustrated the critically-acclaimed picture book, Le jardinier de la nuit.

Eric Fan is an artist and writer who lives in Toronto, Canada. He attended the Ontario College of Art and Design where he studied illustration, sculpture, and film. He has a passion for vintage bikes, clockwork contraptions, and impossible dreams. His widely-praised debut picture book, Le jardinier de la nuit, was a collaboration with his brother Terry.

 

Terry Fan's profile page

 

 

Terry et Eric Fan aussi connus sous le nom The Fan Brothers (frères Fan),ont étudié les arts à l'Ontario College of Art and Design, à Toronto. Ils utilisent des techniques traditionnelles et numériques pour réaliser leurs illustrations. Le jardinier de la nuit, leur premier album illustré, a été acclamé par la critique.

 

Eric Fan is an artist and writer who lives in Toronto, Canada. He attended the Ontario College of Art and Design where he studied illustration, sculpture, and film. He has a passion for vintage bikes, clockwork contraptions, and impossible dreams. His widely-praised debut picture book, Le jardinier de la nuit, was a collaboration with his brother Terry.

 

Eric Fan's profile page

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