Publishing March 5, 2024-North South Books-Children’s Fiction-48pp

Book Summary

Avocado seeds and slow growing! A young girl’s impatience turns to wonder as she and her avocado tree gradually change and grow in this story inspired by Israeli artist Taltal Levi’s childhood.

Ellie is sulking—she celebrated her birthday yesterday under the old avocado tree. But she’s not even a little bit taller today! Dad tells Ellie a secret. She is like the pit of an avocado, he explains, small and full of magic. Together they put an avocado seed in a glass of water by the window and watch as both Ellie and her avocado plant grow, take root, and eventually bring new life.

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab with Leona Claire!

A book for budding scientists and plant enthusiasts!

Leona Claire is my seven-year-old granddaughter. She is a second grader who loves to read, her favorite subject is science and after school takes art lessons. We read the digital copy of Avocado Magic but I’ll definitely order the hardback for her school library! The following comments are from my discussion with Leona Claire :

When asked about the illustrations, Leona Claire gave a solid 10 out of 10! “She (Taltal Levi) used the body’s simplest form to make Ellie look real. With just one line in her eyebrows Ellie looked mad or happy and her crossed arms showed her disappointment.”

When Ellie was frustrated, her dad felt Ellie and the avocado seed needed cheering up. She used puppets, played the saxophone, danced, and tried magic!

Other likes: The rhyme her dad repeated in the story, the magic stirring, and the avocado seed pictures.

“The details in words and pictures made me feel like I could jump into the story!” Leona Claire

Favorite line from the text: “You are like an avocado seed; small but full of magic…”