Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie Kingsley
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Charming, engaging book has magical twist on friendship.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In GROWING HOME, Toasty, a grumpy goldfish, lives in an octagonal fish tank in an antique-filled house on Ramshorn Drive. He spends his days swimming near Ivy, a self-centered plant who is the favorite of young daughter Jillian and barely noticed by her kind but distracted parents. Ivy never questioned why she could move around the house and lift objects, and Toasty never thought twice about being able to splash so accurately far outside the tank. But these skills are suddenly noticed when a spider named Arthur arrives inside an antique desk and Jillian brings home another plant, upsetting the delicate balance of personalities in the house. While the new group tries to sort out what it means to be friends, a mysterious thief tries to take something precious.
Is It Any Good?
From the first pages of this delightful book, Beth Ferry brings witty fun, great storytelling, and lots of personality to readers who don't yet know that they're in for an immensely satisfying story. Growing Home is about friendship and the possibility of magic, but it has layers of emotional depth as the plants and animals try to balance their desire for friendship with the risk of being vulnerable and sharing what they're really feeling. Each has a different kind of aha moment about themselves and their friends, allowing readers to see themselves in the thoughts, feelings, and actions of several characters. Seeing how complex emotions are is both reassuring and thought-provoking, and can lead to some interesting conversations about the choices we make in relationships. And, of course, the magic is lovely.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the individual characters in Growing Home feel about themselves in relation to the others. How does the way each one acts influence the other's mood?
Which objects in your house would you like to be a little bit magical? What would that look like for you?
What other books with bits of magic have you read?
How do the unlikely friends end up working together? Are they successful? What helps them reach their shared goal?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrators : Terry Fan , Eric Fan
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Empathy , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : May 27, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 6 - 9
- Number of pages : 272
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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