The World’s Best Class Plant documents a potted plant’s growth through the seasons, among a diverse classroom of students who attend to their plant through watering, repotting, misting, and eventually the propagation of a new generation of spider plants. This 2025 Giverny Award-winning book showcases the plant attitude transformation that Room 109 students experience as rich illustrations bring a spider plant to life.
Arlo, a student in Class 109, wished that his class could have a normal class pet instead of a “blob in a plastic pot.” However, Arlo and his classmates become more receptive to their class plant after Mr. Bummer (not his real name) suggests that they name their plant. Students now find that “Jerry,” the spider plant, becomes interesting! They seek out information about their plant and add plant jobs to the chore list. Students take turns moving Jerry toward the sunlight, sweeping up dropped leaves, and bringing Jerry home for the weekend. When their excitement exceeds their classroom, Class 109 students celebrate Jerry in a school-wide Jerry Appreciation Day complete with costumes and green snacks. When Arlo moves to the next grade level, he brings the experience of his class plant with him and applies it to a class rock.
The World’s Best Class Plant incorporates multiple science concepts, including plant photosynthesis and reproductive growth. Seasons are documented by changing trees and birds through the classroom window.
Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick collaborated to write our 2025 Giverny book. Scanlon has written more than 25 books for young readers, including a Caldecott Honor awardee. Vernick writes both fiction and non-fiction for young readers and received the New Jersey Arts Council’s writing fellowship three times.
Our 2025 Giverny book’s illustrator is Lynnor Bontigao, who is originally from the Philippines. Lynnor’s illustrations include characters from underrepresented groups so that all children will have an opportunity to see themselves in the story. She received the 2020 Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ Tomie dePaola Professional Development Award.
We think our youngest readers will relate to the characters in The World’s Best Class Plant as they envision themselves doing the same classroom activities in the story. This story reminds all its readers that plants are just as lovable and interesting as classroom pets. A plant resource guide at the end of the book even introduces other possible plant friends to adopt and grow.
