The Growing Story

First published in 1947, Ruth Krauss’s gently understated text is now enhanced by Helen Oxenbury’s illustrations. It is Spring and a little boy, in long, baggy trousers, sets out each day, puppy tucked under his arm, chicks pecking around his feet. As days pass, the child remarks how his puppy is growing, how the chicks are getting bigger not to speak of the trees and plants in the surrounding fields. ‘Will I grow too?’ he asks his Mother. ‘Of course,’ she replies. Summer arrives and it is time to pack away the boy’s long winter trousers. The pages richly glow with warmth as autumn arrives, with its abundant harvest. The dog is now almost as tall as the boy! Mother says it’s time to find warm winter clothes again. Oh, what joy we see on the child’s face, as he tries on his old trousers and jacket and discovers they are much too small… proof at last that he too has grown. The illustrations truly delight in this very charming book.