Children's Writer, Book Reviewer, Teacher, Artist
I'm a little late to the party on this one, but how glad am I to have finally read this wonder of a book by Caryl Lewis! 'Seed' is one of those books that simply bursts with hope, love and characters that you will end up sorely missing, even if they've grown and shared amazing adventures with you. 'Seed' is a book about the magic of our imaginations, the magic of our love to heal us, unite us and inspire us anew. Suffice to say, I adored this utterly charming children's adventure.
Marty doesn't have much. Unlike his mum, who has billions of things: newspapers, holey shoes, rusty lawnmowers, broken picture frames - she keeps EVERYTHING! It's hard to leave the house. Marty does his best to look after her and wonders if anything will ever change. But on Marty's birthday, Grandad, with a glint in his eye, gifts Marty a very special seed....The seed grows bigger and bigger, and launches Grandad, Marty and his best friend Gracie on an impossible, wondrous plan fuelled by love, hopes and dreams.
If you love books by Jenny Pearson and Lisa Thompson then this is for you! 'Seed' is such a big-hearted book that it's impossible not to be swept up in its charm. There is humour, reminiscent, for instance, of Jenny Pearson's 'Grandpa Frank's Great Big Bucket List'. In fact, granddad figures often make for such endearing and enduring characters in children's fiction (think Roald Dahl or Catherine Doyle's Storm Keeper's Island) and in 'Seed' we have one of the best. Marty's Grandad is the magical, mischievous heart of the story - the engineer for happiness. He embodies so much wisdom too that it is hard not to be deeply moved by him - what a fantastic character! Marty and Gracie make for a cute, tender-hearted team who need to chase their dreams as life has been so hard for them. Oh how we root for them! I loved their scheme to scare off bullies; something old-school and 'Home Alone' about it.
Illustrations by George Ermos perfectly accompany the text. I mean, how could it not? It's George Ermos after all! Such an incredible illustrator for children!
Without giving too much away, the book will also completely change whatever you thought a pumpkin could be used for. Forget Halloween! The climax and ending is so full of wonder and happiness it is impossible not to grin from ear to ear. This is a story that grows from humble beginnings into wildly joyous celebration.
I can't help but feel this little book will grow in esteem; to be seen as a little modern classic too. It's a book we all need right now: for comfort, joy and, above all, hope.
https://www.waterstones.com/book/seed/caryl-lewis/george-ermos/9781529077667