Tony Hillery author page

Tony Hillery biography

Tony Hillery is an American children’s author and the founder and executive director of Harlem Grown, a non-profit organisation centred on urban farming and education. He founded Harlem Grown in 2011 after volunteering at a public elementary school in Harlem and working with pupils to transform a vacant lot near the school into a productive garden.

Hillery drew on that experience for his first picture book, Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood, illustrated by Jessie Hartland. Published by A Paula Wiseman Book/Beach Lane Books, part of Simon & Schuster, in August 2020, the nonfiction book tells the story of children and adults turning an abandoned urban space into a farm where they grow fruit and vegetables.

Hillery and Hartland collaborated again on Saturdays at Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood, a companion picture book in the Harlem Grown series. It follows Mr Tony, student Nevaeh and members of their community as they work together on Saturdays to prepare, plant and tend the garden, sharing skills including composting and recycling before celebrating the harvest.

Saturdays at Harlem Grown was published by A Paula Wiseman Book/Beach Lane Books on 2 July 2024.