Seven Great Middle Grade Books About Trees, Greens, and Growing Things

Double Trouble
 by Joanne Levy

Tori loves her organic garden, even if her fake identical twin doesn’t! Check out this hilarious new book about worm poop, gardening, and the challenges of pretending to be your own twin. Then check out author Joanne Levy’s post about how to grow lettuce right on your windowsill!

Duck Dreams: City Boy to Farmer Boy  by Elizabeth Segel

When Simon’s family moves to the country, it looks like his dream of becoming a farmer is about to become true! But farming’s not as easy as it looks, especially when you’ve got cheating chicken dealers, duck disasters, and a best friend who’s not acting like much of a friend at all.

Chelm for the Holidays
 by Valerie Estelle Frankel

Ever wonder if you could plant matzah meal and get a matzah ball tree in time for Passover? Maybe you could drop some nails in the ground and grow a house? Read along as the residents of Chelm celebrate Tu B’shevat, the birthday of the trees!

How to Be a Mensch  By Catherine Newman

Did you know that people are more likely to water plants too much than too little? Learn more facts about houseplants and how to care for them in this fun new PJ Our Way title – coming your way in March 2021!

The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

During World War II, families across the United States and England planted Victory Gardens. In this bestselling book, Ada and Jamie not only plant their own garden but they also get time off from school (along with all the other children in England!) to help pick potatoes for the war effort.

While Standing on One Foot by Nina Jaffe and Steve Zeitlin

Can you grow an entire crop from boiled beans? You may think you know the answer, but you probably don’t know how boiled beans helped solve an argument between Solomon and King David. Check out this fun book of puzzle stories and wisdom tales for more quirky questions!

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

If you’ve never read a book narrated by a tree, you need to. Now. Don’t believe us? Check out this amazing review by a PJ Our Way reader:

“It’s a great book full of feelings, friendship, and a great theme and plot. It was so good that I've read it 3 times and always enjoyed it! (Also, I meant to put 7 1/2 stars, but I can't because there are only 5!)” -Legoworld

(You can learn more about Wishtree and the role of trees in Judaism in this blog post.)