You're More Than a Sprout

by Jill Roman Lord, Sarah Demonteverde (illustrator)

“When I didn’t think I was growing at all, t he Master was strengthening me to grow tall.

In this rhyming story, a young bamboo seed loves his time floating through the air, on his way to his new life . . . until he slams to the ground and finds himself stuck in the soil for a long, long time. He pouts and grumbles as the other seeds grow and become strong plants. When the bamboo sprout finally starts to stretch toward the sky, a panda arrives to nibble his stalks and dash his hopes once again. 

But the wise moon offers words of comfort, assuring the bamboo sprout that the Master is at work in his life, and one day the little sprout will become part of all the wonderful things he saw below on his first journey . . . more than he could ever imagine.

Genres: Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published April 6, 2021

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a children's book that I read to my twin boys. The pictures where so cute, and they loved the pictures. I feel that story it self was just ok, and it did not pull them into it. I also think the beginning and the end was really good, but the middle was a little jumpy and not as good. I receive an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

[Jeanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

Bamboo seeds take a while to grow but once they do, you see the growth. That is it how it is with our personal growth in Christ. Nature is a very good indicator of lessons that God uses to teach us about him. The bamboo sprout is one of them.

The bamboo sprout is anxious to know what he is here for. He wonders aimlessly until he finds his purpose. The illustrations and Sprout's story will capture your child's heart to see what is God is doing while we wait.

A special thank you to B&H Kids and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this was a cute one! I loved the artwork and the rhyming. This is a good message to kids that they have purpose and won't be sprouts forever. That things take time, but eventually everything works out. according the God's plan for you. It's sort of like a mini Bible study for kids, which questions and verses at the back to go through together. Cute way to deliver this message in a form kids would understand and be interested in.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a parent, and teacher, I loved the multiple layers of this beautifully illustrated book. I love that it can be read as a story about the plant life cycle - a great addition to an early childhood science curriculum - but that there’s also the added element of being patient and waiting to come into your own, Growing up is hard, and it can be overwhelming and confusing to figure out your place in the world. This story addresses that very issue in an age appropriate and engaging way. My panda loving daughters loved the addition of their favorite squishy animals, too. This book would be a great addition to a classroom library, or a family bookshelf. The faith related elements are subtle, and can easily be expanded on to meet the spiritual level of your audience. Really enjoyed this one.

[Karen Breda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent this book by the publisher, and am so excited to put my two cents in about it.

You’re More Than a Sprout would have been a perfect book for my kids when they were little, and I will be handing it off to someone who needs it right now.

How many times do children stress about not being old enough, yet? The story of this little sprout shows that patience and faith is usually rewarded. But sometimes it’s in a different way than planned.

This sweet book can be an inspiration to any little one.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

You're More Than a Sprout
by Jill Roman Lord
Back of the Book: “What if you grow to be more than you ever imagined?
Little Bamboo Seed happily floats through the sky, dreaming of his exciting new life. But suddenly—slam! He finds himself buried in the dirt, lonely and forgotten. As he grows into a sprout and beyond, Bamboo must learn that the Master has bigger plans for him than he could ever imagine.
This rollicking story takes us from the sky, underground, and up again, reminding readers that through our up-and-down seasons of growing and waiting, God is always working wonders.
A perfect gift for growing readers in the middle of life's transitions—from new homes to graduations and everything in between.”
Impressions: This was an adorable book with a beautiful message. I loved the illustrations and the rhyming story. I read this with my 5- and 9-year-old sons who also enjoyed the story. They could appreciate how hard it is to wait and feel too young or little to do something they desire. It was encouraging to visually see how little seed waited but how things were coming together around him and eventually through him. He was used and for purposes far greater than he dreamed. The illustrations painted the picture of understanding this concept so well.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

YOU'RE MORE THAN A SPROUT (BH Kids 2021), written by Jill Roman Lord and illustrated by Sarah Demonteverde, allows children to travel alongside a bamboo sprout as he journeys from seed to stalk. When a bamboo seed finds himself planted in the cold, dark ground, he believes his life is over. He shares his woes with the moon, who, in return, advises the little sprout not to lose hope: “Be patient, my friend. There’s so much you can be. Your life will touch others in ways you can’t see.” In the end the bamboo understands his worth and learns he’s “much more than a sprout.” This charming picture book encourages children to wait patiently for their own dreams to come true. The book also includes a “Parent Connection” page with scripture to read and remember as well as discussion starter questions to encourage important dialogue between adults and children.

[Julie Lavender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I learned so much about bamboo from this adorable book by Jill Roman Lord! But the best message of the book? Sometimes, dreams take a long time to come to fruition. But through it all, the Master has a plan – and it is always GOOD!! With each new book Jill Roman Lord publishes, I think, “This is the best one yet!” True to form, I uttered those words when I received her latest book. Grab a copy for a favorite little one in your life and read it over and over and over again.
(I received a copy of the book from the publisher, but the opinions about this fabulous book are my own!)
- Julie Lavender, author of 365 Ways to Love Your Child: Turning Little Moments into Lasting Memories (Revell)

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

You're More Than a Spout by Jill Roman Lord is lovely illustrated and written book that teaches us that we all have a purpose. You're More Than a Sprout tells a story of a bamboo seed and how it takes time sometimes to fulfill and start your purpose. I like how the author says that the waiting for our purpose isn't wasted, but gives us strength for the future. This book has discussion questions in the back and goes more in depth about bamboo trees.. This book would be perfect for a Christian Classroom settings or to use in a Family Devotion. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book! (This review is also on GoodReads.)

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful children's story which illustrates the way that growing pains can affect all of us, told through the eyes of a Little Bamboo Seed. Life starts out fun and carefree but when it's time to be planted and begin to grow up, the Little Seed doesn't feel quite so happy anymore.

This is a beautiful tale about looking forward to the future with hope and optimism even when the current season of life doesn't feel all too promising. I loved this story and would highly recommend it for anyone with children because it teaches a very important life lesson about the values of patience and optimistic thought.

[ArynTheLibraryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is awesome. Showing the life cycle of ups and downs, and how we're not in control of our circumstances, but the Master is always at work, and our contributions can affect many others. I'd love to be like the moon, and consistently reflect the Son's light, but I'm often like the seed and get buried in my circumstances.

Excellent story for kids. Plus, after insisting on reading it twice, my 7YO decided we should spend half an hour on youtube watching videos about bamboo, and learned a ton of information because the book made him curious. I'd say that's a win!

I received a copy of this book from the author, and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.

[Tama Fortner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waiting on God’s plan for our lives to be revealed is never easy—no matter how big or little we are!

Sprout’s journey begins as a tiny seed, soaring on the wind. But when he lands in the dirt and gets stuck there for ages, Sprout wonders what his purpose could possibly be. With bouncing rhymes and lively illustrations, Sprout’s story will help little ones understand that the Master’s plans are worth waiting for.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Josie Siler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from Jill Roman Lord. I had great compassion for little sprout as he sat in the ground and waited to become something. Haven’t we all found ourselves there before? We think we’re stuck in the mud when really God is growing us and preparing us for great things! This book spoke to my heart as an adult and I know kids will love it just as much. It’s message can be carried with them through the years. This would be a wonderful graduation book!

[Shauna Morrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and B&H Kids for the digital advance reading copy of this book.

I loved the illustrations in this book; they were colorful, interesting, and highlighted the text perfectly. I liked the rhyming text used throughout the story, it makes it fun to read and easier to remember.

This book would make a great gift for baptisms or communions.

[Mindy Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet rhyming book! At first the little bamboo seed feels alone and without purpose. But through the pages of the book, he discovers his worth and part in the Master's plan. My take-away--this process takes time and patience and may turn out different than you thought. The author ties the story to Philippians 1:6 and includes a discussion guide in the back.

[Josh Olds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding good children’s books is like finding a needle in a haystack. There are so many children’s books published. Most of them aren’t bad. But, in my experience, most of them aren’t good either. Children’s books are often perfectly mediocre. They’re fine, but there’s nothing memorable or unique about them. That’s never the case with a Jill Roman Lord book.

You’re More Than A Sprout tells the tale of a bamboo seed frustrated that it takes so long to grow, but discovers that God has use for it in many ways. With beautiful illustrations and captivating, sing-song lyrics, Jill Roman Lord (and illustrator Sarah Demonteverde) weave a story perfect for reminding young ones that God is preparing them to do amazing things in His service.

Did you know that bamboo shoots take years to grow? Or that a bamboo plant only flowers and produces seeds once every 30 to 120 years? I didn’t. At least not until I read this book. Lord uses that as a metaphor to teach children (and, let’s admit it, adults) to wait on the Lord and to work where he’s put us. It’s a perfect blend of interesting science facts and spiritual application. Proverbs says we can learn from the ant; Jill says we can learn from bamboo!

At first, the sprout learns about waiting to grow. He doesn’t want to spend all this time in the ground in preparation. Then, once he grows, he becomes used to his high-up view and doesn’t want his sproutlings to be cut down. The moon gently shows the former sprout how it is being used throughout the community—as food and drink, housing and watercraft, musical instruments and toys. The sprout’s existence has transformed the community.

With its AABB rhyme scheme, You’re More Than A Sprout evokes a sort of Seussian whimsy while staying grounded in a true-to-life setting. The word choice is appropriate throughout—easy enough for young readers to get through on their own, yet challenging enough to bring life to the book and maybe add a word or two to a little one’s vocabulary (distinctive and propelled are the two words in the book that come to mind). It was maybe a bit long for my children, but my children are aged 3 and 1—a bit younger than the 4-6 age group I’d recommend this to. My little ones especially liked the pages with the moon and ask me to read those to them specifically. The other day, my one-year-old paged through the book, pointing to various items and calling out their names.

You’re More Than a Sprout is a thoughtful, nuanced, engaging children’s book. Every element of it is crafted with care and an understanding of its intended audience. From the whimsical rhymes to the magnificent message to the colorful illustrations, this is sure to be a favorite in my household for quite some time!

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bamboo seed is unhappy to be stuck on the ground after seeing the wide world from the air. He wonders what his purpose is being stuck in the dirt. But after he sprouts he eventually learns why the Master made him that way.

The point the book is trying to make is important, that we all have a special purpose and our influence can reach way beyond what we know. I love the Asian setting. That is all too rare in Christian picture books. The illustration style is very cute too. I felt like the rhyme needed some more work at times, though I’ve thought the author’s other books I’ve read were excellent. The factual notes in the back of this book about bamboo refer to a specific type of bamboo, but that isn’t clarified and I think it will just confuse our students who see tons of varieties of bamboo daily. (I teach in Thailand.) I wish they had clarified that it was Chinese bamboo that takes so long to germinate and grow. A lot of the varieties of bamboo we see can shoot up in a matter of days, and I can just hear little kids here trying to correct the book. Recommended for Christian families and schools.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Papergirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of You're More Than a Sprout courtesy of @Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

You're More Than a Sprout by Jill Roman tells the life journey of a bamboo sprout from the cultivation, the germination through to its final purpose in a beautifully illustrated book. Through the telling of the sprouts desires versus its destiny for a higher purpose, Roman illustrates Bible verses Philippians 1:16 and psalm 27:14..

The title is best pitched at 9-14-year-olds but we can all appreciate the deeper meaning in the tale.

I noticed one grammatical error at 35% but aside from that, the book is well-edited.

Areally enjoyable book for which I award 4/5 stars.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Bamboo Seed floats through the air admiring the beautiful sights and sounds all around. However, when it lands on the dark dirt ground, it isn't happy at all. Finding it unfair to be stuck there, little bamboo seed grumbles and cries, wondering what it is there for. Compared to the moon and the beautiful flowers around it, the seed questions its own purpose. The moon comforts the seed, that the Master has a plan and it works out in His timing.

I really enjoyed this Christian book with an Asian theme. I loved the message that we are all made uniquely by God and that He has a plan for us and our lives are to serve a greater purpose and cause outside of ourselves.

[Marte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

This is a really cute picture book with a lovely message about self-love and how everyone develops and lives at their own pace! I still think that using the bamboo sprout as a symbol for how our actions and existence have an impact and leave a mark on the world around us is a bit weird. I understand the message, but also the: I see how I've left a mark on so much, and therefore I should just be okay with people cutting me down and animals eating me" was VERY strange.

Overall think it was good tho, would give it 3.5 ⭐️

[Tammy Kennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

You’re More Than a Sprout is Jill Roman Lord’s newest release about a little seed who has big dreams. Unhappy with the Master’s plan, he soon discovers God has far greater plans than he’d ever imagined.
Written with Jill’s signature rhyme and paired with vibrant illustrations, the book is a great addition to any preschool or early elementary classroom, Sunday school setting, or home bookshelf.

If you’re a teacher, parent, or grandparent interested in developing a theme around Jill’s book, you can visit my post here for a variety of classroom ideas.

[Emilee (emileereadsbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and B&H Kids for a free digital copy for my review.

I loved this modern day parable of the bamboo seed. The seed cannot see what he can be because he is so focused on what he cannot. God's plan though encompasses so much more than he imagined. I think the illustrations are beautiful and the message will speak to many hearts, children and parents alike.

[Linda Mayhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You're More Than a Sprout" is a sweet story book reminding children to be patient as God leads them along THEIR own path, to the purpose He has for them! Beautiful Illustrations, I will be reading this to my grandchildren.
Thank you NetGalley and Jill Roman Lord for the opportunity to read this precious book pre-publishing.

[bohemianrhapsodyreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives us a clear and detailed picture of the life of a bamboo seed, from sprout to shoot. I enjoyed learning about how a bamboo seed grows. Furthermore, I am a big fan of books that anthropomorphize the characters. What do you think a bamboo seed would say?

[NayDoubleU · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved and adored everything about this book and the message it brings. I look forward to owning this gem personally and in my classroom