It’s Time to… Grow It! by Ladybird

It’s Time to… Grow It! is an interactive novelty board book that allows young children to copy familiar gardening activities using moving sliders and transforming flaps. Toddlers can pretend to sow seeds, water growing plants, and even mow the lawn as they work through the simple instructions on every page.

Created by Ladybird and illustrated by Carly Gledhill, this colourful book transforms gardening into a hands-on play experience. Instead of merely looking at pictures, children can move the sturdy interactive elements and pretend that they are completing each task themselves.

Published as part of Ladybird’s It’s Time to… series, It’s Time to… Grow It! encourages imaginative role-play, fine motor development, early vocabulary, and curiosity about how plants grow. It is recommended for children aged three years and above.

Let’s Grow a Garden

Gardening involves several different steps, and this book introduces them in a simple, playful order. Children can pretend to prepare their garden, sow seeds, provide water, care for the plants, and manage the lawn.

The moving parts create an immediate response to the child’s actions. Sliding or lifting a feature changes the picture, making it appear as though the gardening job has been completed.

Parents can make the experience more interactive by asking:

• “What should we plant?”
• “What do seeds need to grow?”
• “Can you move the watering can?”
• “What is happening to the plant?”
• “Which gardening job comes next?”
• “What colours can you see in the garden?”

These questions encourage children to observe, listen, and explain what they notice.

Sow the Seeds

The growing process begins with seeds. Children can use the interactive mechanism to imitate planting them in the soil.

Parents can explain that many plants begin as small seeds and require time and care before they grow. Adults can show children safe examples such as vegetable, herb, or flower seeds while keeping very small objects away from younger siblings.

Useful words to introduce include:

• Seed
• Soil
• Plant
• Root
• Stem
• Leaf
• Flower
• Garden

Children can compare the small seeds with the larger plants shown later in the book.

Water the Plants

Plants need appropriate care, and watering is one of the most familiar gardening tasks. The slider lets children copy the movement of giving water to the plants.

Families can extend this activity by allowing children to help water a safe household plant under adult supervision. A small child-sized watering container can make the task easier.

Parents can discuss why plants need water and why giving either too little or too much may not be helpful. The aim is to encourage gentle observation rather than provide a complicated science lesson.

Pretend to Mow the Lawn

The book also allows children to imitate mowing the grass. Moving the slider creates the impression that they are completing another grown-up gardening job.

This activity should remain pretend play for young children. Real lawnmowers and powered gardening equipment are not toys and should only be operated by responsible adults.

Parents can explain the difference between safe pretend activities and equipment children must not touch. This provides an opportunity to introduce simple garden-safety rules while keeping the story enjoyable.

Moving Sliders and Transforming Flaps

The sliders and flaps are central to It’s Time to… Grow It!. Each interactive feature invites children to push, pull, lift, or move part of the page.

Using these mechanisms may support:

• Fine motor development
• Finger strength and control
• Hand-eye coordination
• Visual concentration
• Understanding cause and effect
• Following instructions
• Independent exploration
• Early book-handling skills

Some mechanisms may initially feel challenging. Parents can demonstrate the correct movement before allowing the child to try independently.

Children should be encouraged to move the parts gently to help keep the book in good condition.

Learning Through Pretend Play

Toddlers frequently imitate the everyday behaviour they observe. They may pretend to cook, clean, repair objects, care for a toy, or help in the garden.

It’s Time to… Grow It! uses this natural interest in imitation to create a safe gardening experience inside a book. Children can imagine themselves as gardeners while learning the names of actions and tools.

Pretend gardening may encourage:

• Imagination
• Role-play
• Confidence
• Memory
• Sequencing
• Problem-solving
• Communication
• Understanding everyday routines

Children can repeat the actions as often as they wish and create their own stories about what they are growing.

Understanding How Plants Change

The interactive pictures introduce the idea that plants change over time. A seed does not become a full plant immediately; it needs suitable conditions and patience.

Parents can talk about the sequence:

1. Sow the seed
2. Cover it with soil
3. Give it water
4. Place it in suitable light
5. Wait and observe
6. Care for the growing plant

Children may enjoy comparing the beginning and ending pictures to see what has changed.

Building Gardening Vocabulary

The simple text and colourful illustrations introduce words connected with plants, tools, actions, and outdoor spaces.

Adults can name the objects appearing on each page and invite children to repeat them. They can also introduce action words such as:

• Dig
• Sow
• Pour
• Water
• Grow
• Cut
• Push
• Pull

Connecting each word with a visible movement can help young learners understand its meaning.

Extend the Activity Outside the Book

Families can use It’s Time to… Grow It! as inspiration for a simple real-world activity. With adult supervision, children might:

• Water a household plant
• Help fill a pot with soil
• Sow a suitable seed
• Observe a flower
• Collect fallen leaves
• Look for different plant colours
• Draw a garden picture
• Measure a growing plant

Adults should choose child-safe materials, supervise closely, and keep gardening chemicals, sharp tools, powered equipment, and unknown plants out of reach.

Encouraging Care and Responsibility

Looking after a plant introduces children to the idea that living things require regular care. A plant may need water, suitable light, and time to grow.

Parents can give children a small, manageable responsibility, such as reminding an adult to check a plant or helping to water it when appropriate.

This may encourage:

• Patience
• Responsibility
• Gentle handling
• Curiosity about nature
• Awareness of change
• Pride in completing a task

A Durable Book for Repeated Play

The thick board pages are suitable for children who are still developing careful page-turning skills. Its sturdy format supports repeated use, while the compact shape is convenient for small hands.

Because the sliders and flaps can be moved many times, children can return to their favourite gardening actions whenever they wish.

The book can be enjoyed at home, in a nursery, during quiet play, or as part of a nature-themed learning session.

About Carly Gledhill

Carly Gledhill is a children’s author and illustrator with a background in print design. She completed a master’s degree in children’s book illustration and has worked with publishers including Penguin Random House, Little Tiger Press, Usborne, and Orchard Books.

Her bright, friendly illustrations make everyday activities approachable for young children. More information about her work is available through the official Carly Gledhill author page.

About Ladybird Books

Ladybird creates playful and educational books for babies, toddlers, and young children. Its range includes touch-and-feel titles, interactive board books, bedtime stories, early-learning resources, and popular character series.

The It’s Time to… collection uses sliders and flaps to let children imitate everyday adult activities. Other titles include Bake It!, Clean Up!, and Fix It!.

Families can explore the complete collection through the official It’s Time to… series page.

Who Should Read It’s Time to… Grow It!?

This book is suitable for:

• Children aged approximately 3–5 years
• Toddlers interested in gardening
• Children who enjoy sliders and flaps
• Young learners developing fine motor skills
• Families introducing plants and nature
• Nurseries and preschool activity collections
• Children who enjoy imitating adult tasks
• Anyone searching for an interactive early-learning gift

These publication details are confirmed by the official Penguin UK listing.

About Book Lounge Sri Lanka

Book Lounge Sri Lanka offers interactive board books, early-learning titles, activity books, nature books, children’s fiction, and popular international series. Customers can conveniently browse and order books through the Book Lounge online store.

Visit Book Lounge Sri Lanka to discover more entertaining and educational books for young children.

Book Links

View the official publication information:
It’s Time to… Grow It! – Penguin UK

Explore other books in the collection:
It’s Time to… Series – Penguin UK

Plant, Water and Grow Through Play

It’s Time to… Grow It! turns familiar gardening tasks into an engaging hands-on experience. Its sliders, transforming flaps, colourful artwork, and simple instructions allow children to imitate planting and garden care while developing coordination, vocabulary, curiosity, and imagination.

Whether shared before a real gardening activity or enjoyed independently during quiet play, this sturdy interactive book is a delightful way to introduce young children to plants and the pleasure of helping things grow.