By Jamie Walton (author) , Rose Gerrard (illustrator)
"This jolly picture book shares the magic of companion planting through a heart-warming story about being a good friend."
Paperback In Stock £9.99 £8.99
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May 2026 Debut of the Month
Beautifully illustrated by Rose Gerrard, Jamie Walton’s Plants Need Friends Too! is ideal for green-fingered little ones who are discovering the joy of nature and magic of planting.
Framed as a “story about a garden, and how friends working together helped a new plant find a home”, Plants Need Friends Too! shares fascinating useful information about companion planting through the story of bunch of chums who live in Companion Patch. We learn, for example, how Tumble the cheeky tomato provides Buddy the bushy basil with shade, while Buddy in turn helps Tumble grow sweet and tasty, and Mari the golden marigold protects them both from “pesky bugs”. Similarly, Sonny the sunflower, Curly the carrot and Olga the onion live in harmony as complementary companions.
When an enthusiastic squash named Squish sprouts up, the balance is disrupted, until Mari explains that Squish just needs to find their own special companions in the patch. Enter Connie the corn and Bobbie the bean! Mari also comes to the rescue when Squish is nibbled by insects: with the help of a bumblebee, she “summons the smallest, but mightiest, garden heroes: the helpful herbs”.
Great for use in the context of gardening at home and school, Plants Need Friends Too! also works well as a story about friendship, being kind and showing how everyone has their own role: “We may be different, but we all grow better together”.
The Friendship Patch is a colourful patch of plant friends helping one another grow big, strong, happy and healthy. From cheery sunflowers and shy little carrots, to brave (but smelly) onions, each plant has its own strengths that helps the vegetable garden thrive.
Read the full description
But when a squash called Squish sprouts, the garden faces a challenge: some plants don't know how to get along. With teamwork, understanding and a little bit of magic from Mari the golden Marigold, they discover that everyone has a role to play and that plants, just like people, need friends to be able to grow!
Plants Need Friends Too! is a heartwarming adventure with companion planting techniques at its core. With wonderfully whimsical illustrations by Rose Gerrard, readers will learn that lessons can be learnt from nature, and being a good friend - just like a good companion plant - means helping others.
This uplifting tale from expert horticulturist and social media superstar, Jamie Walton will empower kids to see the garden as more than a collection of plants, but a place of true collaboration.
Jamie Walton is an ecological horticulturist and conservationist, growing food, flowers, and microbes in North Yorkshire, UK. His mission is to support others on their gardening journey, regardless of their circumstances.
Since founding @nettlesandpetals, Jamie has gained a global audience who share inspiring posts on gardening, conservation, and growing plants and vegetables using ecological methods. By focusing on sustainability, Jamie not only teaches people how to grow their own food but also encourages a deeper connection with nature.
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The Friendship Patch is a colourful patch of plant friends helping one another grow big, strong, happy and healthy. From cheery sunflowers and shy little carrots, to brave (but smelly) onions, each plant has its own strengths that helps the vegetable garden thrive. But when a squash called Squish sprouts, the garden faces a challenge: some plants don't know how to get along.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Plants Need Friends Too! and determined it is suitable for children aged 3-6 years old
Plants Need Friends Too! features in the following genres: Featured Books for 3+ readers, Featured Books for 5+ readers, Debuts of the Month, Recommendations, Stories about Family and Friends, Gardening, The Natural World, Picture storybooks, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Friendship stories, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Practical interests, Children’s / Teenage: General interest, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Children’s picture books, Children’s: picture books, activity books, early learning concepts, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Romance / Relationship Stories
Paperback. £8.99, down from the £9.99 cover price. In Stock.
Plants Need Friends Too! was written by Jamie Walton and published by Ivy Kids an imprint of Ivy Kids Eco
Plants Need Friends Too! has 32 pages
£8.99, reduced from £9.99. In Stock.
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