Where I Grew, written by Jashar Awan and illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell, is a stunning picture book that beautifully ties the growth of trees to a family’s immigrant journey. The lyrical text and gorgeous illustrations convey deep emotions of strength, legacy, and hope.

It's a quiet, powerful story that gracefully honors the sacrifices made to build a home in a new place. Nuanced and incredibly moving, this book is a must-read for all ages. It’s a flawless, heartwarming tribute to family history.

I received an electronic ARC from W. W. Norton & Company through NetGalley.
A grandfather and his granddaughter take a walk in the woods. The grandfather refers to different parts of the forest to emphasize their lives - where they came from, where they are, where they will be in the future. The simple text can be interpreted as looking at portions of the forest growth and also seen as the growth of this family. The beautifully drawn artwork captures the mood and the love.

On the title page, readers get a glimpse of a young man, leaving an unknown home with a shoulder bag, suitcase, and the clothes on his back. With a turn of the page, he is a grandfather, clad in the same (or similar) clothing, aided by a cane, carrying the same shoulder bag on a walk through the woods with his granddaughter. As they walk, sparse but lyrical text alludes to the family's journey; it also describes the journey a seed might take as it propagates and grows into a mighty tree. With time, the tree becomes home to birds and butterflies, and a new generation comes to enjoy the forest. This lovely story is rich, nuanced, and multilayered. Much of the story is told through Bell's marvelous artwork, which demands attention and rewards close observation. A sweet, understated tale offering readers much to explore, discuss, and reflect upon.

A young child and her grandfather walk through the forest and observe the nature around them. While doing so, the child reflects on the past, present, and future as she considers the generations that came before her and the generations that are yet to come.

This book has lovely illustrations and it is a refreshing read. Not many picture books touch on the subject of generations of families, but this book does so in a charming way. This is a book worth reading.

I enjoyed this story and would use it in my classroom as a provocation for discussion about where we come from, how we came to be together in our community, and to validate that although we all walk different paths, we can arrive at the same destination and build our own community together. The story flows well and has beautiful illustrations.