Review: Growing Pains

Finn is curious about trees and he wonders if they feel the cold. 

He wonders if the tree in his yard would like a scarf. Does it get hungry? Would it like some toast?
When his feet fidget and ache with growing pains, Finn wonders if the tree has growing pains too. 

When the dark seems too dark, he wonders if the tree gets scared.
Growing Pains is a lovely exploration of curiosity and a child’s world from a child’s perspective. It’s filled with wonder and questions and imagination, and I love how far it pulls the reader into Finn’s home and life.
This story is about being a kid, growing up and learning about the world around you. Through Finn’s eyes, it’s filled with the questions kids would think of — filled with the amazing possibilities that may not make sense to anyone else but kids.
Beautiful collage-style mixed media illustrations by Melissa Johns bring whimsy and wonder to the story. They are quirky, fun and detailed, and they perfectly match the story world author Alison McLennan has created.

Title: Growing Pains
Author: Alison McLennan
Illustrator: Melissa Johns
Publisher: EK Books, $24.99
Publication Date: 16 June 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781925820522
For ages: 4 – 6
Type: Picture Book

June 29, 2021 at 12:37PM Shaye Wardrop