Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

An assortment of unusual characters form friendships and help each other become their best selves. Mr. and Mrs. Tupper, who live at Number 3 Ramshorn Drive, are antiquarians. Their daughter, Jillian, loves and cares for a plant named Ivy, who has “three speckles on each leaf and three letters in her name.” Toasty, the grumpy goldfish, lives in an octagonal tank and wishes he were Jillian’s favorite; when Arthur the spider arrives inside an antique desk, he brings wisdom and insight. Ollie the violet plant, Louise the bee, and Sunny the canary each arrive with their own quirks and problems to solve. Each character has a distinct personality and perspective; sometimes they clash, but more often they learn to empathize, see each other’s points of view, and work to help one another. They also help the Tupper family with bills and a burglar. The Fan brothers’ soft-edged, old-fashioned, black-and-white illustrations depict Toasty and Arthur with tiny hats; Ivy and Ollie have facial expressions on their plant pots. The Tuppers have paper-white skin and dark hair. The story comes together like a recipe: Simple ingredients combine, transform, and rise into something wonderful. In its matter-of-fact wisdom, rich vocabulary (often defined within the text), hint of magic, and empathetic nonhuman characters who solve problems in creative ways, this delightful work is reminiscent ofFerris by Kate DiCamillo,Our Friend Hedgehog by Lauren Castillo, andIvy Lost and Found by Cynthia Lord and Stephanie Graegin. Charming.(Fiction. 6-9) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Publishers Weekly
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Though cantankerous goldfish Toasty is the only pet at Number 3 Ramshorn Drive, he’s not the favorite inhabitant of aspiring young botanist Jillian Tupper; that designation belongs to a bubbly, self-centered plant called Ivy. From his antique octagonal tank in the foyer, Toasty bickers amiably with Ivy, occasionally splashing her to emphasize his points, and enjoys cheese puffs pilfered by the flora. The arrival of two new creatures—inquisitive spider Arthur and a shy violet plant named Ollie—upends the pair’s comfortable routine and leads to the discovery that Toasty’s fish tank is magical. With a carefully targeted splash, the plants are imbued with special powers: Ivy can lift heavy objects and Ollie becomes invisible, abilities that prove useful with the third-act arrival of a devious antique collector bent on obtaining the fish tank. Chatty asides from Ferry (The Peddler of Puddles) provide context and vocabulary lessons as a buoyant, omniscient narrator skillfully conveys the foursome’s idiosyncrasies, particularly Toasty’s sense of isolation and accompanying crankiness. Neat spot illustrations by the Fan brothers (Barnaby Unboxed!), rendered in their signature style, convey humorous details such as both Toasty and Arthur sporting fetching bowler-style hats. Ages 6–9. Author’s agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Heirloom Literary. Illustrators’ agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Agency. (May)

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Toasty the goldfish lives a luxurious life, but he’s still jealous of a nearby houseplant, Ivy. He can’t understand why their child, Jillian Tupper, would prefer the unexciting potted plant to his swishy self, but Toasty and Ivy have formed a somewhat begrudging bond (it helps that Ivy is magically able to pilfer cheese puffs for Toasty). The delicate détente is upset when Jillian brings home a second houseplant, and the appearance of a chirpy spider with a broken leg does nothing to diffuse the tension. When a mysterious man threatens the Tupper residence, the disparate roommates pull together to protect the homestead and discover they might make the perfect team. The utterly charming tale is populated by memorable, messy characters, and it’s a pleasure to watch them grow from jealous roommates to dear friends as they each gain wisdom and empathy. Touches of magic and a droll narrative style add enjoyment, and the occasional black-and-white illustrations are adorable accompaniments. A splendidly silly story that will have readers looking at friendship (and houseplants) in a new way.