Roo and the Big Garden Redo

Gr 2-5–In a fantasy world where tiny folk live in the garden and commune with plants and small animals, Roo (who has green skin and a mushroom hat) and Aco (who has brown skin with an acorn hat) seem content living next to each other and spending their days hanging out with their pet ladybug Sparky and their hummingbird friend Flutter. That is, until the resident human (who has light skin) decides to start on a garden redo project. Sensing it’s time to take a vacation, Aco is excited to see what changes lie ahead, but Roo is anxious and afraid. Will their home be the same? What if there’s no longer a place for them and their friends? Ultimately, Roo learns that while environments may change, that’s not always for the worse, especially when they have friends around to support them. Barros’s illustrations are bright and mangalike (which should attract young fans of that format), with lots of greens, yellows, and blues. The end of the book features a “Take a Closer Look” section with SEL-based discussion questions for caregivers or teachers to use to extend the story.