The World's Best Class Plant

Illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao
Look inside
An irresistible picture book about a boy and his classmates who long for a class pet, but discover the joys and rewards of nurturing a class plant.

Room 107 has a cockatiel. Room 108 has a chinchilla. Even the Art Room has a bearded dragon. But in Room 109, Arlo's classroom, there is a plant. A mostly green, hardly growing, never moving plant. Even though it doesn't squeak, whistle, or whimper, Arlo’s teacher says the plant is “more than enough excitement for us.” But what could possibly be exciting about a plant?

One day, Arlo decides to name the plant Jerry. Something about naming the plant makes it more exciting. As the class learns to take care of Jerry, he starts to grow . . . greener and longer and twistier. And before long it's clear that something amazing has taken root in Arlo's classroom.
© Sam Bond
Liz Garton Scanlon is the author of nearly 20 beloved picture books, including All the World, which received a Caldecott Honor and which School Library Journal called "perfection" in a starred review. Her other picture books include I Want a Boat! and Thank You, Garden, as well as the upcoming The World's Best Class Plant (May 2023.) Scanlon is on the faculty of the Vermont College of Fine Arts and is a frequent and popular presenter at schools, festivals and conferences. She lives in Austin, Texas. Bibsy Cross is her first chapter book. View titles by Liz Garton Scanlon
Lynnor Bontigao hails from one of the more than 7,600 islands of the Philippines. She is the illustrator of You Are Revolutionary by Cindy Wang Brandt and the forthcoming The World's Best Class Plant by Audrey Vernick, and Sari-Sari Summers, which she wrote and illustrated. A member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the winner of the 2020 SCBWI Tomie dePaola Professional Development Award, Lynnor Bontigao lives in New Jersey with her family. View titles by Lynnor Bontigao

About

An irresistible picture book about a boy and his classmates who long for a class pet, but discover the joys and rewards of nurturing a class plant.

Room 107 has a cockatiel. Room 108 has a chinchilla. Even the Art Room has a bearded dragon. But in Room 109, Arlo's classroom, there is a plant. A mostly green, hardly growing, never moving plant. Even though it doesn't squeak, whistle, or whimper, Arlo’s teacher says the plant is “more than enough excitement for us.” But what could possibly be exciting about a plant?

One day, Arlo decides to name the plant Jerry. Something about naming the plant makes it more exciting. As the class learns to take care of Jerry, he starts to grow . . . greener and longer and twistier. And before long it's clear that something amazing has taken root in Arlo's classroom.

Author

© Sam Bond
Liz Garton Scanlon is the author of nearly 20 beloved picture books, including All the World, which received a Caldecott Honor and which School Library Journal called "perfection" in a starred review. Her other picture books include I Want a Boat! and Thank You, Garden, as well as the upcoming The World's Best Class Plant (May 2023.) Scanlon is on the faculty of the Vermont College of Fine Arts and is a frequent and popular presenter at schools, festivals and conferences. She lives in Austin, Texas. Bibsy Cross is her first chapter book. View titles by Liz Garton Scanlon
Lynnor Bontigao hails from one of the more than 7,600 islands of the Philippines. She is the illustrator of You Are Revolutionary by Cindy Wang Brandt and the forthcoming The World's Best Class Plant by Audrey Vernick, and Sari-Sari Summers, which she wrote and illustrated. A member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the winner of the 2020 SCBWI Tomie dePaola Professional Development Award, Lynnor Bontigao lives in New Jersey with her family. View titles by Lynnor Bontigao

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