Avocado Magic by Taltal Levi

Avocado Magic by Taltal Levi. NorthSouth Books, c2023, 2024. 9780735844988






Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4



Format: Hardcover picture book



What did you like about the book? Ellie lives with her family and celebrates her birthday every year under the giant boughs of an avocado tree. She’s impatient to grow up and have her feet reach the ground under the kitchen chair. Her dad counsels patience and compares her to an avocado pit, showing her how to get one to sprout in a glass of water. Although Ellie is once again disappointed (the avocado takes even longer to grow than she does!), we get to watch as both the girl and the tree grow to maturity. The potted plant accompanies her to college before eventually being transplanted outside a new house, as a now pregnant Ellie and her husband await the arrival of a new baby. Delicate, organic, and dreamy watercolors help tell the story, with clever vignettes to show the passage of time. In one double-page spread, four ascending arched windows feature the avocado plant growing taller as Ellie lights a menorah, practices the saxophone, works on a laptop, and packs up her belongings to leave home. Clear directions at the back of the book will walk children through how to sprout their own plants and explain that avocados will only thrive outside in warm, humid conditions. We also learn that they are water hogs and to lessen their environmental impact, should be eaten in moderation. 



Anything you didn’t like about it? No



To whom would you recommend this book?  Avocado lovers and readers looking for stories about growing up.



Who should buy this book? Public libraries



Where would you shelve it? Picture books



Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? No



Reviewer: Susan Harari, Keefe Library, Boston Latin School, Boston, MA



Date of review: February 29, 2024