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Joy Takes Root Hardcover – Picture Book, June 20, 2023

by Gwendolyn Wallace (Author), Ashleigh Corrin (Illustrator)
5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 12 ratings
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In her grandmother's garden, a young Black girl learns about mindfulness and herbal medicine in this soothing intergenerational story about our connection to nature.

It's Joy's first summer in her grandmother's South Carolina garden—a rite of passage. In the midst of okra, spinach, and strawberries, Grammy teaches Joy that plants are friends with many uses. Herbs, for example, can be turned into medicine.

There in Grammy's abundant backyard, Joy learns to listen for the heartbeat of the earth and connect it to her own as she takes deep breaths and puts her intentions into the soil. By the story's end, she learns to grow seeds in her own garden, honoring all that her grandmother taught her. With sensory-rich illustrations from award-winning illustrator Ashleigh Corrin, Joy Takes Root is a blissful reminder of all that might bloom.
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    4 - 8 years
  2. Print length
    32 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 3
  5. Lexile measure
    AD810L
  6. Dimensions
    11.38 x 0.36 x 8.75 inches
  7. Publisher
    Kokila
  8. Publication date
    June 20, 2023
  9. ISBN-10
    0593406788
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0593406786
  11. See all details
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From the Publisher

JoyTakesRoot
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Editorial Reviews

Review

PRAISE FOR JOY TAKES ROOT 

Black Caucus American Library Association Best of the Best 2023
 
"A quiet, thoughtful tale that promotes mindfulness, intentionality, gratitude, and connection." --Kirkus Reviews

"Moving... a reap-what-you-sow telling that considers what’s been given and what’s yet to come." --Publishers Weekly

"A beautiful ode to both the natural world and intergenerational cultural wisdom that imbues the sequential steps of planting a garden with a deeply felt spirituality." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

About the Author

Gwendolyn Wallace graduated from Yale in 2021 and currently works for the International African American Museum. A budding herbalist, her debut children's book Joy Takes Root was inspired by her own experiences gardening with her grandmother in South Carolina. Her next picture book, The Light She Feels Inside (Sourcebooks) will publish Fall 2023.





Ashleigh Corrin is a graphic designer by day, illustrator by night. Her talent comes from her late grandmother, who inspired Ashleigh to serve people's unique stories with creativity. With her illustrations, she hopes to contribute to good laughs, nostalgia, vulnerability, transparency, and seeing the light in ourselves and others.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kokila (June 20, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593406788
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593406786
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 8 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD810L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 11.38 x 0.36 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars 12 ratings

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  1. Gwendolyn Wallace

    Gwendolyn Wallace

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  2. Ashleigh Corrin

    Ashleigh Corrin

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    Ashleigh Corrin Webb is a 2020 Ezra Jack Keats award-winning illustrator who keeps service at the heart of her work. She is a multi-passionate creator interested in the story, the people, and the purpose behind her projects. She has contributed to editorial publications, nonprofits, and agencies. Her first published piece was included in Enchanted Lion Book's 'A Velocity of Being: Letters to a Young Reder'. 'Layla's Happiness' was her debut in children's books, in which she received the 2020 Ezra Jack Keats award for illustration.

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Customer reviews

5 out of 5 stars
5 out of 5
12 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Hello
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for young children with strong ties to their families
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2023
Verified Purchase
I ordered this book for my neighbor’s 6 year old, who has close ties with her grandparents. My little neighbor reads this book every night before she goes to bed. Gwen left no stone unturned in this sweet read of familial ties. Thank you!!!!
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H
5.0 out of 5 stars Radiates warmth and love
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2023
Verified Purchase
Delightful! Weaving love and connection between family and the earth, the story and illustrations capture that special love between generations. Life lessons shared in simple moments have enduring impacts.
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Sharif
5.0 out of 5 stars family and gardening
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2023
Verified Purchase
Gwendolyn Wallace’s Joy Takes Root is a lovely story about our connection to plant life. In a South Carolina garden, Joy learns from her grandmother the importance of plants and connecting to ancestors who had their ways of taking care of the soil. Earth is alive and has a wondrous heartbeat. Children will take away so much from this book’s topics on family and gardening. Ashleigh Corrin’s illustrations contain both softness and pops of color that enhance the story.
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JDS and DTS
5.0 out of 5 stars A sweet, meditative, heartfelt book…
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2023
Verified Purchase
JOY TAKES ROOT is a sweet, meditative, heartfelt book with important themes about nature, gardening, connections to earth and more… I love the expression of the beautiful intergenerational relationship between grandmother and granddaughter. It’s the type of book where you discover something new with each read. A lovely gift choice for both kids and adults.
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Stacy Davids, Ph.D.
5.0 out of 5 stars Serene story about family, nature, and spirituality
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2023
Verified Purchase
This beautiful story is excellent for encouraging kids to reflect about their relationships with their grandparents, ancestors, and the earth. While Joy learns about gardening, her grandmother also imparts spiritual lessons that have been passed down from her ancestors. It’s a calming read that’s full of heart. Highly recommended!
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Sarah G Ross
5.0 out of 5 stars Touching Children's Book
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2023
Verified Purchase
Joy Takes Root is a touching account of a young girl's relationship with her grandmother and their shared connection to the earth. Not only is this a sweet and beautifully written story, it is one which conveys an very important message.
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Chris
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book!
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2023
Verified Purchase
Very sweet story with beautiful illustrations. Would make a great gift for your grandchild.
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LP
5.0 out of 5 stars heartwarming story of family
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2023
I'm a grandparent and received this book as a present and am very grateful. This is a beautifully illustrated story of a young child's connection with her grandmother as they bond over a shared love of gardening and nature. Heartwarming, meaningful, filled with sage advice and love. I would recommend this not just to girls but to all children and their parents and grandparents. Beautiful story beautifully told. Everyone should be lucky enough to have a grandparent or parent like this and a child or grandchild like this. The book is a gem.
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