The Growing Story

by Ruth Krauss, Helen Oxenbury (Illustrator)

From this simple beginning grows a story that celebrates those little changes that tell us we're growing up! This Ruth Krauss classic enchanted young readers when it was first published in 1947. Now it blooms again with lush illustrations by one of the world's best-loved illustrators: Helen Oxenbury.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Nature, Family, Fiction, Kids

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1947

About the author

Ruth Ida Krauss was an American writer of children's books, including The Carrot Seed, and of theatrical poems for adult readers.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated book about a little boy who longs to be bigger. These illustrations are wonderful. This reminded me of the very little girl.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a really well-done illustration of how children grow: so slowly that they hardly notice. I love how the boy is compared to flowers and his puppy. This was right on target for my four-year-old who talks about growing up to be big like Daddy every time he sits down to a meal.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the illustrations! This is a fun story about how a little boy grows up across the seasons--and the point when he finally realizes that he HAS grown just like the puppies and chicks and trees.

[Ramona Cantaragiu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story that teaches children about basic math concepts such as little, big etc. as well as about the four seasons. I found it a bit too repetitive (not in a good way) and a little boring.

[Emma Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to use in early years- all about growing up and the things around you which grow. A little boy is surrounded by chicks, a puppy, crops and flowers which all grow in front of his eyes, he keeps asking his Mum why he isn't growing as quickly as the rest of them. The season changes and he puts his winter clothes away, when it comes to the next winter he gets his clothes out again and they are too small for him because he has grown. He is over the moon and has realised that the things around him will grow quicker than him but he is growing as well.

Good book for the end of the day or in conjunction with seasons and growth of plants and animals etc.
Really lovely book, well written with illustrations.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all I think Krauss and Oxenbury have produced a lovely story as well as very detailed and colourful illustrations!

I think the way this story is written using lots of repetition and constantly relating to the seasons and nature changing shows the reader that the little boy is growing as everything is changing however, you feel a sense of sympathy in case he isn’t!

The ending is lovely and brought a smile upon my face, great use of vocabulary throughout too! I would recommend this to anyone!

[Sophie Snowden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the truly wonderful story about learning to wait to grow. The little boy is watching everything around him grow up, and he asks his mum why he isn't growing. When he puts his winter clothes away, he plays happily during the summer but still doesn't think he's grown. When winter comes again and they get back out the winter clothes, the boy rejoices when he finds his winter clothes don't fit, as this must mean he's grown!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really charming, and the illustrations by Helen Oxenbury!!! ❤️

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover is a spoiler, so don't show it to your kids (at least of the original version, available on OpenLibrary.org). Controlled vocabulary, rhythm, patterns, and illustrations that tell more than the text... this is a wonderful little book by a poet who interviewed and respected children.

Krauss was relatively prolific... I don't know why her classics have fallen out of print or been re-illustrated for re-release. Imo, they're worth reading in the original, even if you have to see them scanned and use your screen. I'm sitting down with a bunch now, because I just finished Crockett Johnson and Ruth Krauss: How an Unlikely Couple Found Love, Dodged the FBI, and Transformed Children's Literature.
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Reread the archived copy of the original on OpenLibrary.org. Review stands. Have ordered Oxenbury's.
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Read Oxenbury's. Livelier, prettier, possibly more engaging to modern families. But I, personally, prefer the original.

[Sara Lemonade · Rating 2 out of 5]

Text is from 1948, illustrations are newer. You could say I quickly grew bored with this book.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute story for little kids.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a lovely book about a young boy who watches everything around him grow, but feels that he himself isn't growing. Until one day when he tries to put on some clothes that he had worn the year before, and couldn't really fit into! He is then very excited that he has grown!

Children may be able to make world-to-text connections, if they have ever felt very small and that they aren't growing. The reader can see through the illustrations that the boy is getting bigger, but he just doesn't notice, sending out a message that children don't often realise how they grow day to day, month to month.

[Juushika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Krauss story with updated art, and again I wish I could read it with the original illustrations (by Phyllis Rowand), if only to see how they compare. Oxenbury's human figures are weirdly simple against vibrant, lush backgrounds, but those backgrounds do the heavy lifting for a narrative about passing seasons and growth. I'd call this more effective than evocative--it feels teachable, in a way which fails to capture an adult imagination--but it has good payoff and rich art.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Growing, whether it's growing physically or emotionally, is often so subtle that it is imperceptible. I love this book that shows that even through day by day we may not notice that we are growing, we are. It's often only in looking back that we see how much we have grown.

[Jordyn Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was so charming to me (and my 3yo boy). I enjoyed the storyline and illustrations and my son enjoyed the illustrations, a story that’s easy to relate to for little kids - could also be paired well will discussions on seasons changing and the cycle of seasons.

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story, beautiful illustrations. Love Ruth Krauss!

[LAURA G · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites! Helps young children think about what growing looks like and feels like.

[Dominika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story and illustrations about growing up and how world and those around us change.

[Aneesa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a hit with the toddler, but I thought the mom seemed stylish.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The divine simplicity and joy that Ruth Krauss mastered. Oxenbury's illustrations are lush and beautiful. Occasional black and white illustrations add a classic feel. Perfect.

[Ruksar Qureshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written and illustrated. I read this to my youngest most nights to remind him he is growing. It’s lovely

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute story with great illustrations. 2 year old loved this and asked for an immediate reread.

[Brystal Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about growing.

[Leah Scriver · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than the actual story, my son loved seeing this little boy play on his farm. He really
Enjoyed this book.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

/* Starred Review */ PreS-K—A young boy watches a puppy, chicks, and the world around him grow through the seasons. On the opening page, it is early spring, with light snow falling and buds just appearing on the trees. The puppy is small enough for the boy to tuck under his arm. As the days grow warmer, the child and his mother put away his warm woolen clothes. He watches in wonder as the flowers bloom, pears ripen, and the puppy grows into a dog. He asks his mother, "Am I growing too?" Despite her affectionate reassurances, the youngster is still unsure. As the leaves grow red and yellow and brown, the days grow shorter, and the air grows colder, they take the box of warm clothes from the shelf. The little boy is delighted to find that everything is too small, and, with a cartwheel of delight, proudly shouts to the dog and the chickens, "I am growing too." The illustrations perfectly capture the gentle spirit of Krauss's classic text (HarperCollins, 1947). Oxenbury conveys the expressive postures of childhood in the boy's skipping gait, his stance as he ponders something, and his pensive gaze as he considers his changing world. The expressive watercolors are especially suited to the beauty of the changing landscape. The text is nicely paced and well suited for storytimes or one-on-one sharing. A great selection for a new generation of readers.—Robin L. Gibson, Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool, OH --Robin L. Gibson (Reviewed July 1, 2007) (School Library Journal, vol 53, issue 7, p79)

[Teri Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oxenbury’s illustrations depict this gently story so well. A little boy observes everything growing, the grass, the animals… He wonders if he’ll grow. The weather gets hot. Clothes get stored. The trees are changing. As the weather changes again, his growth is evidenced in the stored clothes not fitting. The boy is so happy to be growing.

Vocabulary: looking glass, blossom, orchard

LERNING EXPERIENCE
How Things Change Activity: using words and arrows chart the change that happens in the story. Chicks—chickens. Puppy—dog. Buds of corn—ears of corn. Blossoms—fruit. In the end, did the pants become shorter or the boy become taller?

Use Comparing Words (Shorter, Taller): Make block towers compare their size. Take photos. Change their size. Compare them again to each other and to what they were in the past. Make plans for the future size. Will they be even taller, wider?

Looking Glass Activity: Use a mirror. Draw a picture of what you look like now (or something you like to do know). Copy the last words from the book, “I’m growing, too.” Either draw a picture of what you think you will look like or like to do in the future, or ask parents to send in baby photos or clothes to compare growth. Use vocabulary about comparing, changing.

[Catherine Toca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a cute realistic fiction story. It's wonderful to show children that may be in a relatable situation. In the story, a young boy watches everything around him grow: plants, flowers, leaves, and even his puppy and chick. The boy begins to ask his mother why he is the only thing not growing. She of course replies that he is growing, but not as noticeably. The boy continues not to believe her until he tries on his winter coat at the beginning of the next season and discovers that it no longer fits. He, too, has been growing.

The story is very sweet, as are the pictures. Neither are remarkable or exciting but they fit realistic fiction well.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most kids go through the frustrations of not growing fast enough. So they will understand the little boy in this book. He spends the seasons frustrated that unlike the chicks and the puppy, he shows no signs of growing. But when the seasons begin again, he has a wonderful surprise!

First published in 1947, this book has beautiful new illustrations by Helen Oxenbury, some of the best she's ever done. The little boy's expressions, both in his face and his body language are vivid, and the scenes of the bucolic farm from season to season are wonderfully done. A winner.

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruth Krauss’ original text from 1947 is given fresh life by two-time Kate Greenaway medalist Helen Oxenbury. A little boy watches as the grass, trees, chicks, and his pup all grow, but he cannot see that he has grown at all, until he puts on his cool weather clothes once again. Oxenbury’s watercolor and charcoal landscapes are gently reminiscent of impressionist paintings and the innocent expressions on the boy’s face are pure charm. Schools with a 4-year-old program could utilize this quality choice in units on growing.