What makes the place we live feel like home? This is a warm-hearted and lush picture book about family, the immigrant experience and how a simple garden can foster a connection to the larger natural world.

Mama was born in a country far away from here. I love her stories about warm rain in winter and green mountains. And now Mama's taking me there!

When a young girl and her mother go to visit her family, the girl notices a change. At home, her mother mostly stays inside. Here, her mother likes to explore and go hiking. The girl has never seen her so happy! Her mother tells her about the trees, bushes, flowers and birds. Did you know that tree roots make mountains strong? And that ài hāo (mugwort) is used to make delicious, sweet dumplings?

But her mother's smile goes away when they return home. It's cold and she doesn't want to go outside. She goes back to wearing her big quilted jackets and watering her houseplants.

How can the girl show her mother that nature here can be wondrous too?

Includes a glossary of plants with Mandarin/English words.

Jessica J. Lee's profile page

Elaine Chen is an illustrator, painter, and visual storyteller. She enjoys using her own expressions to capture life's little things and moments that cannot be put into words. Currently, she works as an artist at a video game studio in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Elaine Chen's profile page

A Toronto Public Library First and Best Book Pick for Readers Under Five
One of CCBC’s Best Books for Kids and Teens for 2024
"[A] heartening reminder to hold on to our inherited seeds wherever we go, allowing them to bloom in all the places we come to call home." —STARRED REVIEW, Quill and Quire

"This beautiful story of love, resilience, and family will appeal to readers of all ages." —STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal

"[A] tender familial narrative. . . . Lee’s lovable characters, portrayed with pale skin and dark hair, organically introduce the natural world into the story line, and Chen’s digitally edited gouache illustrations depict the impact of getting to know its diversity." —Publishers Weekly

"An endearing tale about the importance of fostering love and connection—no matter where home is." —Kirkus Reviews

"Chen captures the beauty of both settings and the emotions of the main characters in a series of colorful, expressive gouache paintings. Lee writes with sensitivity for both the child and the mother. An encouraging picture book, particularly for other children of immigrants." —Booklist
"[A] delicately told and sensitive story that revolves around an evolving mother-daughter relationship through which it explores two complementary themes that pertain to the experience of immigration." —CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"Attractive illustrations done in gouache on watercolour paper by Vancouver artist Elaine Chen make this a welcome addition to springtime reading for first readers." —Winnipeg Free Press

"This picture book would be a wonderful addition to any child’s library, especially those who are trying to learn about nature in other cultures and locations. It is exciting, touching, and sure to get your child wanting to go explore nature both around their own home and around the world." —Young Adulting
"A Garden Called Home begins with a tough premise. The girl’s responsibility for her mother’s emotional renewal could have ended in sadness. Instead, her fascination with the environment, her persistence in expressing that experience, and her mother’s hidden strength, allow their life together to bloom." —Imaginary Elevators