What do you think?
Rate this book
Seeds of Promise
When Maya moves to a different country, she feels lonely and lost. Everything―and everyone―seems so unfamiliar here, and she wonders if she will ever find a way to fit in. Longing for her home, she holds tightly to the special seeds her grandmother gave her, afraid to plant them. Can she take the risk that they―and she―might grow and bloom in this new place?
Hardcover
Published January 1, 2021
88 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 3, 2021
This sweet, well-done 48 page picture book for early elementary aged readers shows the fear associated with being in a new place, the love of an elder family member, and the courage it takes to make new friends. The story focuses on a young Pakistani girl who has recently moved to a new country and how she tries to remember the wisdom of her Nani to blossom in her new home. The culture rich story is universal and lyrical, with hints of making duaa, greetings of salam, and the soothing sounds of the athan that make memories of home so foreign to her in her new residence. Young readers will empathize with Maya, and see the symbolism in the seeds she is anxious to plant and cultivate.
Maya finds her new home unfriendly and cold, she feels different with her food, and clothes, and way she speaks. Home to her is dancing in the warm mansoon rains, saying As-salamu 'alykum, and waking up to the sweet athan. Nani was also there, her old home. Sweet Nani with her hundred wrinkles, smelling like flowers. When Maya left, Nani gave her a gift. Little seeds of promise, so that they and she might bloom where planted. But Maya doesn't know where to plant them, she carries them with her everywhere she goes, but like a secret, she keeps them close.
Channeling her Nani's tenderness, she knows that she has to plant them if one day she wants to be surrounded by flowers. Maya loves flowers, dancing around them, praying among them. Maya finds a patch of earth. She longs for rain, she hopes for warmth. She makes way for the rays of the sun. The text talks of flowers, the illustrations show both the plant and the growing friendships. For days nothing happens, with the seeds or the classmates. But Maya remembers that seeds have a long journey from the ground up.
Maya nurtures her seed, just the one she dared plant, with love and kindness. She too feels ready to burst. Can she be brave enough to plant all the seeds, can she share them, and her self in her new world? Can their be warmth here, like there was over there? Can this too be home?
I love the symbolism and juxtaposition of the seeds growth with her own. The character arc and the transition of home being one place to being the other, is very well done, older readers will feel an aha moment when they grasp it and younger kids will enjoy both the surface story and the dialogue you can have with them about blossoming where planted.
Religion is not a strong thread, but Islam is present in her memories of her maternal grandmother and all the warmth and love that those memories contain. I love that the classmates were never mean, they just didn't know her either. I wish there was a bit more diversity of skin tone and mobility in the classroom illustrations and the friend circle she is hoping to join. Overall, a beautiful OWN voice picture book that will be enjoyed for multiple bedtime, small group, and classroom readings.
Maya finds her new home unfriendly and cold, she feels different with her food, and clothes, and way she speaks. Home to her is dancing in the warm mansoon rains, saying As-salamu 'alykum, and waking up to the sweet athan. Nani was also there, her old home. Sweet Nani with her hundred wrinkles, smelling like flowers. When Maya left, Nani gave her a gift. Little seeds of promise, so that they and she might bloom where planted. But Maya doesn't know where to plant them, she carries them with her everywhere she goes, but like a secret, she keeps them close.
Channeling her Nani's tenderness, she knows that she has to plant them if one day she wants to be surrounded by flowers. Maya loves flowers, dancing around them, praying among them. Maya finds a patch of earth. She longs for rain, she hopes for warmth. She makes way for the rays of the sun. The text talks of flowers, the illustrations show both the plant and the growing friendships. For days nothing happens, with the seeds or the classmates. But Maya remembers that seeds have a long journey from the ground up.
Maya nurtures her seed, just the one she dared plant, with love and kindness. She too feels ready to burst. Can she be brave enough to plant all the seeds, can she share them, and her self in her new world? Can their be warmth here, like there was over there? Can this too be home?
I love the symbolism and juxtaposition of the seeds growth with her own. The character arc and the transition of home being one place to being the other, is very well done, older readers will feel an aha moment when they grasp it and younger kids will enjoy both the surface story and the dialogue you can have with them about blossoming where planted.
Religion is not a strong thread, but Islam is present in her memories of her maternal grandmother and all the warmth and love that those memories contain. I love that the classmates were never mean, they just didn't know her either. I wish there was a bit more diversity of skin tone and mobility in the classroom illustrations and the friend circle she is hoping to join. Overall, a beautiful OWN voice picture book that will be enjoyed for multiple bedtime, small group, and classroom readings.
October 23, 2021
I was introduced to diverse children's literature through Sana Rafi and her debut book 'Little Seeds of Promise' has a lot of heart. Maya's story of being an immigrant is relatable not only to other immigrants but to every person who has ever felt like an outsider. You can feel her yearning for her homeland and her desire to make new friends, it's palpable. Her beautiful relationship with her grandmother reminded of my own and resonates with the idea of a loved one being your true home in the world. The plant metaphor in this book is so aptly depicted through attractive illustrations. I would highly recommend this book to help children empathize with those who do not belong but also to ponder what is their own idea of home.
November 13, 2021
A lovely tender story, written with such warmth. Anyone missing their grandparents from faraway lands will especially love the Nani love and wisdom into these pages.
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
December 10, 2021
“Bloom where you are planted, Maya�
�
What a beautiful and sweet well-written book by @srafibooks about a young immigrant girl who has moved to a new country.�
�
Maya appears to be from Pakistan, although the text doesn’t specify that, it says: there for her old home, and here for her new home. This is an example of the soft and kid-spoken language of the book, it genuinely radiates the sweet shyness of Maya and her sadness at leaving her home.�
�
Like a flower uprooted, Maya feels like her new home (appears to be America) is cold. She remembers how over “there�, she used to hear the watchman’s song and the athan (def something many Muslims miss from Eastern lands) and people calling Asalamu Alaikum. Over there, people danced in the monsoon rains, after which would come flowers. Over there was Nani, and her sweet tender love that only a grandma can give.�
�
Nani and Maya loved planting flowers together, and praying among them (one of the images shows them standing with their hijabs on their heads and making duaa with their hands up).
Nani gives Maya some flower seeds to plant in her new home.�
�
Maya holds these seeds and waits, but she is worried about planting them in her new home, here. The seeds symbolize her confidence in a way, and she decides to plant only one…to start putting roots in this new home, and maybe be surrounded by flowers.�
�
And slowly, like the rain and the sun provide warmth and nourishment, friends provide Maya with friendship and smiles.�
�
And just like flowers take a while to grow, so did she in her new home.�
I like how the book had positive representation of Pakistan, and showed how Maya has so much beauty (flowers) to offer to her new home.
I also liked how the book showed how hard it is to leave your home, which helps kids learn empathy- showing the need for warmth to help new kids bloom.
I like the way Maya bloomed and changed from a shy girl to one who has more confidence in herself at the end. It sweetly transforms the book into one not just about immigration, but about the importance of friends and growing and blooming no matter where you are.
�
What a beautiful and sweet well-written book by @srafibooks about a young immigrant girl who has moved to a new country.�
�
Maya appears to be from Pakistan, although the text doesn’t specify that, it says: there for her old home, and here for her new home. This is an example of the soft and kid-spoken language of the book, it genuinely radiates the sweet shyness of Maya and her sadness at leaving her home.�
�
Like a flower uprooted, Maya feels like her new home (appears to be America) is cold. She remembers how over “there�, she used to hear the watchman’s song and the athan (def something many Muslims miss from Eastern lands) and people calling Asalamu Alaikum. Over there, people danced in the monsoon rains, after which would come flowers. Over there was Nani, and her sweet tender love that only a grandma can give.�
�
Nani and Maya loved planting flowers together, and praying among them (one of the images shows them standing with their hijabs on their heads and making duaa with their hands up).
Nani gives Maya some flower seeds to plant in her new home.�
�
Maya holds these seeds and waits, but she is worried about planting them in her new home, here. The seeds symbolize her confidence in a way, and she decides to plant only one…to start putting roots in this new home, and maybe be surrounded by flowers.�
�
And slowly, like the rain and the sun provide warmth and nourishment, friends provide Maya with friendship and smiles.�
�
And just like flowers take a while to grow, so did she in her new home.�
I like how the book had positive representation of Pakistan, and showed how Maya has so much beauty (flowers) to offer to her new home.
I also liked how the book showed how hard it is to leave your home, which helps kids learn empathy- showing the need for warmth to help new kids bloom.
I like the way Maya bloomed and changed from a shy girl to one who has more confidence in herself at the end. It sweetly transforms the book into one not just about immigration, but about the importance of friends and growing and blooming no matter where you are.
October 23, 2021
As the daughter of an immigrant, I resonatedso much with this beautiful story about missing your home and feeling like an outsider in a new place.Often times as a society, we forget just how hard it is to be an immigrant - a new language, new food, new culture, new social norms - and making friends can feel impossible.
Making newfriends is difficult foreveryone. We all feel shy or scared attimes. This feeling of shyness or the feeling of being afraidare heightened when we are immigrants because we feel different. This can be even harder if we are treated differently.
This beautiful story will help child and adult immigrants feel seen, while also reminding others whatbeing an immigrant is like. I also love how seeds are used as a metaphor for the main character's journey.
While my family emigrated from the Caribbean (the Dominican Republic) and not Pakistan, I too miss dancing in the warm rain and our Dominican garden full of tropical fruits and flowers that do not grow inNY or PA.
Thank you Sana Rafi for writing such a beautiful story.
Another reason to love this book - the illustrationsare stunningly beautiful. Renia Metallinou did an incredible job.
Making newfriends is difficult foreveryone. We all feel shy or scared attimes. This feeling of shyness or the feeling of being afraidare heightened when we are immigrants because we feel different. This can be even harder if we are treated differently.
This beautiful story will help child and adult immigrants feel seen, while also reminding others whatbeing an immigrant is like. I also love how seeds are used as a metaphor for the main character's journey.
While my family emigrated from the Caribbean (the Dominican Republic) and not Pakistan, I too miss dancing in the warm rain and our Dominican garden full of tropical fruits and flowers that do not grow inNY or PA.
Thank you Sana Rafi for writing such a beautiful story.
Another reason to love this book - the illustrationsare stunningly beautiful. Renia Metallinou did an incredible job.
October 20, 2021
What a touching story! I loved the very special relationship between Maya, and her Nani, and how their special bond was the heart of the story...even with distance between the characters. It is so difficult to start over again...leaving everything, and loved-ones behind. This story can be used as a great conversation starter at home or in the classroom. Who is Maya? Why is she sad? Why did she leave her home? Why couldn't Nani come along? Why must she bring a little piece of home with her? It is a story that is so relatable to many, and that so many can empathize with. I along with Maya, found the little seeds comforting... the seeds almost seem magical in the story, and with love and care transform into vibrant blooms! Amazing illustrations! As a librarian, I highly rec this book as a great addition to a diverse bookshelf!
October 25, 2021
Little Seeds of Promise is a book about the difficulties of starting anew and the possible promises that await. The text is lyrical, the pictures are just gorgeous. It's an amazing gift for anyone starting a new school, anybody who has to move, and, of course, anybody who has had to move to a new country. Through the stories of the little girl, and the seeds given to her by her grandmother, you feel both the pain of having left those you love behind, the fear of starting new in an unknown land, and the potential hope and beauty that comes with new beginnings. Just a beautiful, heart-warming book in very way. Can't wait to gift it to friends...even pre-teens or teenagers who might be changing schools. Just so much emotion packed into this beautiful and powerful picture book.
October 28, 2021
Bloom where you are planted. This reminder is tenderly reinforced in this beautifully written and illustrated book about a young girl's acclimation to her new home after leaving her homeland and her beloved grandmother behind.
Little Seeds of Promise is a wonderful text as both a mirror for children and families who have experienced the uncomfortable chill of being an outsider in a foreign land, and also as an empathy-building window for those who haven't been in that position.
This book would be an excellent resource or conversation starter for lessons related to empathy or inclusion and should be in every library. Well done.
Little Seeds of Promise is a wonderful text as both a mirror for children and families who have experienced the uncomfortable chill of being an outsider in a foreign land, and also as an empathy-building window for those who haven't been in that position.
This book would be an excellent resource or conversation starter for lessons related to empathy or inclusion and should be in every library. Well done.
October 20, 2021
A beautiful and tender story with themes of migration, belonging, family and friendship. Maya misses her old home that she has left behind. She misses her grandmother and remembers her wise words as she tries to find her way in her new world.
With beautiful lyrical prose, Sana Rafi renders a much needed story of finding one’s place in the world. The illustrations by Renia Metallinou are warm and bright. A hopeful, heartwarming book. It would make a perfect gift for a child beginning a new school.
With beautiful lyrical prose, Sana Rafi renders a much needed story of finding one’s place in the world. The illustrations by Renia Metallinou are warm and bright. A hopeful, heartwarming book. It would make a perfect gift for a child beginning a new school.
October 21, 2021
What a lovely, inspiring story about a girl who has left her home country to move to another. The contrast between Maya’s observations of “here� (her new home) and her memories of “there� (her native home) are heart-tugging. The language in the story is beautiful as is Maya’s relationship with the grandmother that she loves and misses. Renia Metallinou’s gorgeous illustrations plant their own seeds, giving the reader insight into the friendships Maya begins to develop even before the seeds she’s planted begin to bloom.
September 28, 2023
Maya is struggling to find her roots. Her family has moved to a new country and before they left, her Nani gave her a gift--little seeds of promise. Nani told her, "Bloom where you are planted, Maya." Maya holds onto these precious seeds and carries them everywhere with her in this new land. Remembering dancing with her Nani and the sweet smell of flowers, Maya hopes that if she plants just one of her seeds maybe someday she can find that happiness again. The beautiful illustrations really bring the message of the story home.
October 20, 2021
I got to see this lovely picture book before it is officially released on October 26th, and it is so sweet and beautiful! It's a gentle, wistful story about the patience needed to adjust to a new home, a new country, and new friends, centered around the metaphor of growing hope from a single seed. This would be a perfect story for any child or family who is going through a transition and needs a little seed of promise for themselves as they patiently adjust to big changes.
October 20, 2021
Sweet lyrical story that tackles immigration and belonging in a beautiful way! Maya moves to the U.S., but it's different than back home. She misses her Nani, who smelled like flowers. She holds on to the seeds her Nani got them but is still not ready to plant them and see them grow. She turns out to be brave and embrace the change, and letting go of what's holding her back. Highly recommend this sweet, own voices immigrant story!
October 27, 2021
A charming, gentle story of strength and patience through the process of settling into a new home and school. As the daughter of immigrants and as a mom who has moved with her family across the globe, I see myself and my children in this heartwarming story. A beautiful reminder, for all kids facing transitions of any kind, of the resilience that lives within, just waiting to bloom once we are ready. Lyrical text and tender illustrations make this perfect for every classroom and home library.
October 20, 2021
This a lovely story that captures the difficulty of moving to a new country and leaving loved ones behind. The love between the main character and her grandmother is felt and the concept of planting seeds is a beautiful metaphor that works so well with the journey of integration and establishing new roots and making new friends when everything is so foreign.
November 2, 2021
A lovey book that helps kids understand they have some ownership over the little actions that can make their lives rich. Bloom where you grow, the grandmother in the book tells the girl as she moves to a new country. And the girl will bloom along side the literal seeds she plants. My kids, 8 and 9, loved it.
Read
November 3, 2021Absolute poetry! An incredible story of resilience, perseverance and the pain and beauty of the immigrant experience. A homage to an immigrant's roots as well as the unique challenges that an immigrant faces in establishing new roots in a new home. Sana Rafi is a dynamic, eloquent author who seamlessly tackles "big" ideas and concepts for the littlest hearts and minds. Well done!
November 21, 2021
This is a sweet, lyrical picture book about a young immigrant girl, Maya, who is homesick and feels out of place in her new environment. She carries around and plants the little seeds of promise that her Nani gave to her before she left, and Maya learns to embrace change and bloom like sweet-smelling flowers, too.
October 20, 2021
This is a sweet book about a girl struggling to find her place in a new town an ocean away from her Nani. I really enjoyed the imagery, illustrations, and sweet soul within Maya. Definitely a book to buy to help young readers come out of their shells and blossom in the world around them.
October 20, 2021
Loved the themes of patience, growing something new, and love and friendship. So kid-relevant, as often the process of making new friends is slow and hard to control, but this book makes a beautiful parallel. The illustrations are gorgeous and the words are lyrical and fun to read.
November 17, 2021
A beautiful story about longing and belonging that will resonate with kids and adults alike. The gorgeous illustrations peer perfectly with the lyrical text, making this a book kids will want to read again and again.
March 23, 2022
Maya is trying her hardest to acclimate to new country, her grandma gave her seeds to bloom in new place. Slowly she along with the seeds start blooming. A beautiful book of hope, such beautiful colors and illustrations. Highly recommended
April 21, 2022
Sweet story about an immigrant girl who misses her grandmother and her growth in a new home as illustrated through the metaphor of growing seeds. I like how the story shows that Maya had to open up (like a seed) to others to start to make friends and stop feeling lonely.
April 25, 2022
Terrific book about a young girl named Maya who moves to a new country and needs to adapt. Her grandmother has given her a handful of seeds of promise and asked her to bloom where she is planted, but Maya struggles to do this at first, and feels left out and lonely.
November 27, 2021
This was a wonderful story about how to change the way you see yourself.
March 5, 2022
Pakistani rep
July 20, 2022
Pictures are cute, but the story is boring.
November 16, 2022
Pleasing illustrations. Positive story of the challenges of emigrating to a new country and missing loved ones "back home."
January 4, 2023
A beautifully illustrated book about growing where you are planted, even if it is far away from home.
January 24, 2025
Beautiful art, a bit sad.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.