Tiny Garden
by Deborah Underwood; illus. by Jax Chow
Preschool, Primary    Cameron/Abrams    32 pp.
3/26    9781419774911    $18.99

Not a fan of the large “fancy gardens” in his neighborhood, a young horticulturist sets out to cultivate his own little plot. Andrew digs up a “small rectangle” in his front yard, appreciating “the smell of soil, rich with possibilities” and the dirt under his nails. A grown-up neighbor (with a large garden) offers unsolicited advice: “That is far too small.” Andrew is undeterred: he plants some seeds, waters his wee plot, and waits. “And soon, there was a tiny, perfect jewel box of a garden.” Underwood’s meditation on nature, patient observation, and steadfast belief in yourself is well matched by Chow’s delicate illustrations, “created with gouache, watercolor, and colored pencils with fabric and paper collage.” Andrew’s garden is tiny indeed—it looks to be about the size of a brick—but the pages’ plentiful white space gives it room to blossom and thrive; the bright, multicolored plot of flowers appears even more splendid in the uncluttered layout. The neighbor continues to harp (“What is the point?…You can barely see it!”), but Andrew revels in his creation, which welcomes a hummingbird, insects, and an earthworm. Occasional hints of humor add to the lightness: e.g., a moth “couldn’t believe her compound eyes.” This quiet, reflective book celebrates following your own path.

From the January/February 2026 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.