Joy Takes Root by Gwendolyn Wallace

Abstract

Reviewed by: Joy Takes Root by Gwendolyn Wallace Kate Quealy-Gainer, Editor Wallace, Gwendolyn Joy Takes Root; illus. by Ashleigh Corrin. Kokila/Penguin, 2023 [32p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780593406786 $18.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R 6-9 yrs This summer at Grammy’s home in South Carolina is particularly special for Joy: the little girl will be helping her grandmother as she works in her beautiful garden. Plants, Grammy says, are “our friends and our family,” and they must be tended with care and intention—there is more to the art of gardening than just soil and seeds. Grammy begins the planting process with deep breaths and thoughts of gratitude to her Black ancestors who worked the land for generations; she touches her heart and the ground, listening to the “Earth’s rhythm.” Finally, she breathes hope into the soil, just before dropping seeds into the neatly made rows. When it’s time for Joy to leave, she worries she won’t be able to grow the seeds Grammy gave to her, but by patiently following Grammy’s guidance, she helps them sprout. This is a beautiful ode to both the natural world and intergenerational cultural wisdom that imbues the sequential steps of planting a garden with a deeply felt spirituality. Grammy’s reverence for the garden is grounded in both her labor over the land and [End Page 343] the miracle of growth that comes from it. The mixed media art captures that balance with an exquisitely joyful style, sometimes integrating Grammy and Joy into a world of flourishing vegetation, and other times focusing on their interactions with nature. Textures are richly varied with watercolor-like dappling, stamp-like outlines, and rich saturation; hues are appropriately verdant with radiant pops of color throughout. While the text is a bit heavy for a storytime, this could easily be incorporated as preparation for a classroom or community gardening project. Copyright © 2023 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois