Growing Home by Beth Ferry illustrated by The Fan Brothers

The only thing to note about Number 3 Ramshorn Drive was the big oak tree in the front yard—and what went on inside. I can promise you it won’t be what you are expecting. Unless of course you are expecting a story about two plants, a spider, and a magical fish tank. Oh, and cheese puffs—lots and lots of cheese puffs. 

If you’re expecting that, then this is the story for you.

And don’t forget, hope is like a hook ... 

Once it catches hold of you, it doesn’t easily let go.

First off I need to say this book will be nearly impossible to find here in Australia unless, like me, you are prepared to read an ebook version. If you do find the book [9781665942485] the price of the print edition is way too high for a school library at over AUS$32 for this 272pg middle grades illustrated novel. Hopefully there will eventually be a paperback edition for a better price AND booksellers will bring it here to Australia (hint hint Gleebooks Kids).  

Here is a list of the characters in this book. I am sure you will find it hard to imagine how there could possibly be a story that connects them - a goldfish named Toasty; an ivy pant in a pot named Ivy; a spider named Arthur; a violet plant in a pot named Ollie; a canary named Sunny; and a bee named Louise. Listen to this podcast. And here is part two of that same podcast. 

Jillian's parents run an antique store. They have dreams of 'making the big break' and finding an antique worth tons of money. Right now this is even more important because Mr and Mrs Tapper have made some unwise decisions, borrowed too much money from the bank and now they are in real danger of having no money and perhaps no home.

They regularly visit garage and farm house sales and that is where they found the very curious octagonal-shaped fish tank (that is where Toasty lives). The parents, however, have no idea that someone else wants this tank nor do they know it has magical properties. 

Jillian is desperate for a pet but Toasty the fish is all she is allowed to have until she finds Ivy. Yes, Ivy is an indoor plant, but Jillian loves her and talks to her. In fact, Toasty is becoming quite jealous about their relationship. Also, Ivy is sure SHE is Jillian's favourite.

Mr and Mrs Tapper bring home an old large desk from a bookshop - the house is filled with the antiques the collect. What they do not know is that a little spider has made the desk his home and even more importantly (but I cannot tell you why) this desk also contains a very large, very old, first edition (hint) book.

So in this story there will be heroism, teamwork, everyone will make new friends, and of course you will be smiling over the glorious happy ending. This is a perfect book to share with readers aged 7+. 

Here are some text quotes to give you a flavour of this story:

Ivy was the small houseplant who sat on the kitchen table. She had three speckles on each leaf and three letters in her name. “Good morning, Ivy!” Jillian sang. “Who’s ready for some sunshine?” Jillian had never actually announced to anyone that Ivy was her favorite, but Toasty could tell. Actions speak louder than words. So do singing and dancing and kissing. Jillian picked Ivy up and danced her to the window, where the sun could kiss her leaves. The sun had never kissed Toasty’s fins or his face or his tail. Not once. Not ever.

“A goal of the day keeps the boredom away!” she said. ... “ROY is the beginning of the rainbow,” Ivy explained. “It stands for red, orange, and yellow. I’ve decided my goal of the day is to find something for each color of the rainbow.”

Despite not being her favorite, Toasty loved Jillian. She might have questionable judgment when it came to favorites, but she was always doing something interesting. And when you’re a goldfish—even a goldfish in an octagonal tank—interesting is important. Toasty couldn’t wait to see what was in the box. He was sure it wasn’t cheese puffs, but as we’ve said, hope is like a hook, and Toasty was hooked on cheese puffs. And hey, weirder things have happened.

And in that moment, Arthur realized that he, too, had a superpower. It was reading. Which explained why there were so many books in the world. Everyone wanted a superpower.

You will remember that Toasty does not have very good manners. It’s still up for debate as to why that is, but it is a fact. Toasty felt like his home was being overrun by strangers. First a spider, then a violet, and now a bee. Enough was enough! “Manners, schmanners. What’s next, a horse?”

“Friends, schmends,” Toasty muttered. “Cheese puffs are better than friends.” “Nothing is better than a friend, Toasty!” Ivy admonished.

Listen to an audio sample here. And I found a video of Beth Ferry reading the opening chapters of her book.

One of my favorite things about this book is the abundance of wordplay the author uses. Whether your kid is an English nerd or just loves a funny book, they’ll have plenty to giggle about while reading this one. It features a truckload of puns, new vocabulary words taught to readers as they read, and beautiful illustrations to bring each chapter to life. Reading Middle Grade

"Ferry has presented a wonderfully imaginative story with magic, mystery, and adventure, set almost entirely in one setting (goldfish tanks don’t move that easily). In addition, detailed pencil illustrations by the talented Fan brothers are sprinkled throughout, and these add whimsy to the novel’s delightfully expressive animal and vegetal protagonists, especially Toasty, with his signature bowler hat and perpetual frown." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Kirkus review: Each character has a distinct personality and perspective; sometimes they clash, but more often they learn to empathize, see each other’s points of view, and work to help one another. ... The Fan brothers’ soft-edged, old-fashioned, black-and-white illustrations depict Toasty and Arthur with tiny hats; Ivy and Ollie have facial expressions on their plant pots. ... The story comes together like a recipe: Simple ingredients combine, transform, and rise into something wonderful. In its matter-of-fact wisdom, rich vocabulary (often defined within the text), hint of magic, and empathetic nonhuman characters who solve problems in creative ways, this delightful work is reminiscent of Ferris by Kate DiCamillo ...

This book will be a really terrific family read aloud. I suggest you buy a packet or two of cheese puffs - Toasty loves these and because he kept talking about them I started to want to eat some too. I am not sure what we call these here in Australia but I found this packet which is sold at our local supermarkets. 

You can read more plot details here. 

Bookseller blurb: Ivy is the beloved houseplant of young Jillian Tupper of Number 3 Ramshorn Drive, much to the constant dismay of Toasty the goldfish, who is technically the family pet—swimming in his special place of honor, the antique octagonal fish tank—and should be the most loved. It seems that's how the cookie (or cheese puffs, in Toasty's case) crumbles in the curious Tupper household, but soon a sequence of thrilling and magical events challenges that way of life forever. First, there's the arrival of Arthur, a knowledgeable spider with a broken leg and a curious mind, hidden in an old typewriter. Then Jillian throws everyone for a loop when she brings home dear, sweet Ollie, a school houseplant who just wants to be friends and sing. When Toasty splashes the plants with his tank water out of frustration, the friends learn that they can do magical things—like lift heavy objects and turn things invisible! It turns out Toasty's fishtank isn't just for fish; it was made by a curious inventor who gave it special powers that, in the wrong hands, could disrupt everything forever. And a curious man with purple shoes just so happens to want that tank at any cost. Can Ivy, Toasty, Arthur, and Ollie grow to be friends in time to work together to save their beloved Tupper family from utter ruin?

I have previously talked about lots of book illustrated by The Fan Brothers and also Beth Ferry (check out her page about Growing Home) and see all her books here.  I am excited to meet The Fan Brothers at the 2026 IBBY Congress on Ottawa. 

I can see Nature's Rainbow by Vicky Woodgate

 

"Some creatures use colour to camouflage themselves, others to send a warning or to attract a mate. While plants can't talk, their colours are often designed to say 'Eat me!' to animals. From red monkeys and white whales to green sloths and purple snails, discover the amazing rainbow world we are so lucky to live in."

This book is from the UK, but it does contain animals from around the world including our Australian Quokka and Kangaroo. I think this book would be a popular one in your school or preschool library - I imagine it might have been offered on Scholastic Book Club in 2023 as they are the publisher. 

A few discoveries from this book:

Blue - Blue Tang (fish) change colour depending on their mood; No land mammals are completely blue but some have blue faces such as the Golden Snub-nosed monkey; Blue Whales eat up to 40 million kril each day.

Green - The (green) Northern Birdwing butterfly can measure more than 22cm; a green toadstool is the Parrot Waxcap; algae grow on the fur of the sloth turning it green.

Brown - The ring-tailed cat is a cousin of the racoon; Brown bears can outrun a horse.

Red - Red foxes have whiskers on their legs and retractable claws; a very poisonous plant is the Bleeding Heart.

Purple - I had not heard of the Purple Frog, Purple Lubber Grasshopper, Purple Martin (bird) or the Lilac-Breasted Roller (bird).

Image source: Project Noah

Pink - I'd love to see a pink-spotted Lady Beetle. 

Orange - The Zombie Frog is orange; and so is the Baboon Tarantula.

Yellow - this page includes a flower I always associate with a book - the Black-eyed Susan; the yellow in the eye of a lion helps it see better at night.

White - Mute Swan; Dwarf Hotot Rabbit; Snow Petrel; Giant Leopard Moth; Beluga Whale.

Grey - the collective noun for mushrooms is a troop; you need to know I am frightened of Geckos and now I discover one called a Grey Gargoyle Gecko.

Black - Polar bears have black skin; I like the name Chimney Sweeper Moth; the Dracula Orchid.

Chimney Sweeper Moth image source: Stewkley Wildlife Reserve

My favourite page in this book is near the end - it is filled with rocks and minerals of every colour. There is a full index and a page of projects at the back too.

Here is the web page for Vicky Woodgate.

Despite only having 32 pages, I Can See Nature’s Rainbow, is absolutely full to the brim with images and words explaining how diverse things are in the natural world. This will appeal to inquisitive children, in early years and KS1, who prefer information books. Just Imagine

Australia: Country of Colour by Jess Racklyeft

"Australia is the home of vivid red dirt, big blue skies, wild green bushland and warm golden beaches. This very large island has allowed unique, colourful and incredible plants and animals to adapt and grow, many of which can't be found anywhere else in the world."

This is a quote from the opening page of Australia Country of Colour and then there is an extract from the well known poem My Country by Dorothea Mackellar. Here is the famous second verse:

I love a sunburnt country,

A land of sweeping plains,

Of ragged mountain ranges,

Of droughts and flooding rains.

I love her far horizons,

I love her jewel-sea,

Her beauty and her terror –

The wide brown land for me!

There are lots of books, old and new, which explore Australian flora and fauna and also many books for children which explore our major geographical features and landscapes but this one is extra special for several reasons. Using colour as a way to organise all of this material is so appealing and means the book is filled with vibrant illustrations. Every double spread, two for each colour, has room for more than a dozen animals and plants so this book goes way beyond the usual A to Z format with one or two examples per letter. Curious readers are given just the right amount of information for each plant or animal including the scientific name and the white background on every page means every creature or plant just pops out at the reader. It is clear that Jess Racklyeft has done an enormous amount of research for her splendid book and I am sure all included plants and animals will be a jumping off point for many children and classrooms to explore our, as the opening words say, 'incredible' creatures and plants.

Image source: Facebook Jess Mess - Illustrations

Here are the colours and sites and one example of an animal that was new to me:

Red and Pink - Uluru - Mount Kapular Pink Slug

Brown and Orange - Purnululu National Park Western Australia - Leichhardt's grasshopper

Yellow - Mount Kosciuszko National Park - Yellow Chat

Green - Tarra-Bulga National Park - Green Catbird

Blue - The Great Barrier Reef - Dollarbird

Violet and Purple - Bruny Island - Peacock Mantis Shrimp

Black and White and Grey - Kati Thanda or Lake Eyre - Pied Monarch bird

You could use this book as a gift; for a science lesson; as art inspiration - the end papers are scrumptious; or in a geography lesson. 

Here is part of the advertisement for this book from one of our large chain stores:

• The first book to explore Australian animals, plants and landscapes through the lens of the colour wheel.
• Jess Racklyeft has methodically collated some of Australia's best-known, as well as little-known, animals, plants, insects and places and presents them in pleasing colour categories, celebrating the veritable rainbow of colour that is Australia's natural world.
• An enjoyable and accessible way for children to learn more about the plants and animals of Australia.

This book is divine! Surprises come with every page and Jess Racklyeft's artwork as always, is stunning.  Kids' Book Review

Every school library should purchase this book. I am certain this book will be a 2024 Children's Book Council of Australia CBCA Notable title and also a short listed book in the Eve Pownall category. 

The Pumpkin Man and the Crafty Creeper by Margaret Mahy illustrated by Helen Craig

First off I do need to tell you this book was first published in 1990 so it is long OUT of Print!! If you are a publisher reading this book (I know that is unlikely) but can I BEG you to republish this gem and then consider publishing lots of other Margaret Mahy titles (so many are brilliant). If you are not a publisher then I do hope you can find this book in your local or school library. 

This book is a perfect book to read aloud. I dream one day of using this book with a group of teacher education students - reading it aloud - as a way to show them the magic of a perfect read aloud book! The library I visit each week had a copy of The Pumpkin Man and the Crafty Creeper on their shelves and I was thrilled to see it was the larger format hardcover edition. My old library copy (which very very sadly was tossed out by my unqualified replacement) was just a small, very flimsy, paperback.

Mr Parkin loves his pumpkins.  On his way back from the garden store, pushing his wheel barrow filled with the very best potting mix, he passes a small plant creeping out from under a metal gate. The gate belongs Lily Rose Willowherb. 

The plant had "trumpet-shaped flowers of such a pure and beautiful blue that they reminded Mr Parking of the sky on a midsummer's day. For a moment his loyalty to pumpkins wavered."

But Mr Parkin should not stop to talk to this plant - she is utterly treacherous. Of course Mr Parkin is not listening to me!  The plant tells Mr Parkin she is being abused by Lily Rose Willowherb. 

"She makes me stay out in all weathers. She never reads to me or helps me enjoy the finer things of life. Take me home with you, and I will be your humble little pot plant, though I am actually a rare and valuable species."

Mr Parkin is not sure this is a good idea but the little plant tells him this is not stealing. She is happy to creep, creep, creep into his wheelbarrow. 

At home Mr Parkin put her in a pot, but this is a huge mistake because now her demands begin - more water, but not too much. Turn on the television - alas for the creeper Mr Parkin does not own a television. She demands entertainment. Mr Parkin tries playing his banjo but she is not satisfied.

"I can't bear it ... I need music, poetry, light and laughter. Is that too much to ask?"

Mr Parkin phones up the 'Dial-an-Orchestra' people who are listed in the telephone book. Just to add an aside at this point it would be such fun to show your young readers a real telephone book and also, if you can find The Boy who was Followed Home (also my Margaret Mahy) you might compare this scene with the one where the parents look up witches in their telephone book and find Mrs Cathy Squinge. 

Now back to the book.

The orchestra agree to come to Mr Parkin's house and they will bring their own strawberries but they also want champagne and a piano. Of course Mr Parkin does not own a grand piano but the orchestra come anyway. They fill up the kitchen and even have to perch on top of the fridge.

"The orchestra played mightily, sustaining itself with strawberries and champagne in between minuets and mazurkas."

But the creeper is not satisfied. She demands Mr Parkin read her some poetry and at that moment Lily Rose Willowherb arrives. She has heard the orchestra and has guessed her naughty plant is causing havoc for her poor unsuspecting neighbour. 

"He kidnapped me! He kidnapped me! ... He reached through the gate and dragged me into his wheel barrow. ... I'm too sensitive for this rough life ... I'm beginning to droop."

"You? Droop? You're as tough as old boots,' said Lily Rose Willowherb, whisking it out of its pot. 'You're so tough you're practically a weed!"

When I read this book aloud in my library I would always gather some ivy or other "creeping" plant so the children (Grade 2) could see the way creepers cling onto walls and fences. 

To those attuned, the satire here cuts with rapier precision, but Mahy's use of language is so deft and good-humoured that her tale will also be read as more lighthearted hyperbole. Illustrator Craig nicely extends the characterisations, adding plenty of amusing details Kirkus Star review

Margaret Mahy, as I have said in previous posts, was a superb storyteller. I do love the way each of her books has a different illustrator. This one is illustrated by the wonderful Helen Craig who also illustrated Jam. (And the Angelina Ballerina book series). 

The Map of Leaves by Yarrow Townsend

"Wherever there is sickness, there is rumour ... but I am here to tell you the scientific truth of the matter. This sickness is not brought about by witchcraft or sin. No. This sickness has come from a place of disease and pestilence. It has come from the wild. ... We must be rid of it. ... The plants, the weeds, the swamp, the forest, the wild gardens. Disease lurks among the plants and the wild things, breeding mosquitoes and poisons."

Orla lives alone outside the village of Thorn Creek. Orla feels like an outsider because her healer mother is now dead and the people of the village seem to treat her with hostility and suspicion. Orla does have one friend - her horse called Captain and she also has the constant company of the plants, flowers and herbs in her garden. Orla can hear the plants talking and they often give her wise advice.

Life is not perfect, it is hard, but as the story opens it is clear things are about to become much worse perhaps even life threatening. Orla notices black marks are appearing on the leaves of her plants. Then a young boy from the village asks Orla for help. Idris's brother Castor is desperately ill. When Orla lifts his sleeve she sees the same purple marks that appeared on her mothers arms. Orla was unable to save her precious Ma. She is sure she cannot help Castor. 

Thorn Creek is governed over by a wealthy ink-manufacturing family, whose head is Inishowen Atlas, Warden and resident of Hind House. He is often absent but on this dreadful day he arrives on his horse and declares a sickness is coming. With the voice of authority he tells the village that their plants are to blame. He orders everyone to destroy every plant in the village. Orla knows the plants are not the source of the sickness and she also knows the people will starve because there will be nothing left to eat.

Ma has left Orla her book of remedies. At the front of the book there is a very detailed map and on the map there is a tiny circle around a distant place called Fleetwater. Beside the circle in very faint writing Ma had written the word 'here'. Orla decides to stow away on a Hauler boat but she has no idea Idris and Ariana, the niece of the tyrant Atlas, are going to join her. Nor does she have any idea about the horrible scene that awaits her when she finally, after an utterly terrifying journey, reaches the place on her mother's map.

Each chapter in this book is prefaced with a herb, its scientific name and uses. I really enjoyed reading these. Some will be familiar while have such interesting names: Lady's Mantle (a sprig under the pillow aids sleep); Devil's Rope (very dangerous, fatal if it enters your blood); Viper's Bugloss (an infusion of the seeds can drive away melancholy).

I loved the world of this book, the strength of each character, the wisdom and warnings of the plants, the personal growth of Orla, and the powerful atmosphere created by debut author Yarrow Townsend. One other delightful discovery (it's a minor point but so heartwarming) comes from a discovery about character of Idris. He is very skilled with needle and thread. When Orla's sleeve is torn he says:

"Let me fix the tear in your coat sleeve while you and Ariana paddle ... it's annoying me like nobody's business'. He held out his hand and motioned for Orla to pass him the coat. ... 'Fine,' she said ... but mind you do it properly."

Here is a wonderful description of Orla:

"Twelve-year-old Orla had dark-brown hair, bramble scratched hands, and a determined frown. She wore a pair of boy's breeches that she never changed, an oilskin coat that smelled of beeswax, and a pair of thick leather boots."

Yarrow Townsend build a chilling, atmospheric world, highlighting the damage those with wealth and power cause in their search for more wealth and power. Miss Clevelands Reading

The Map of Leaves is exquisitely written and brilliantly original. The descriptions of the natural world and rich and immersive, and the book is underpinned by a real reverence for nature. Get Kids into Books

I have been in a slight reading slump lately. I am ploughing through a long fantasy book and I only seem able to read 3 or 4 pages at a time. With nearly 400 pages I seem to be taking way too long to finish the book. So last night I picked up a different book - this one. I read The Map of Leaves in one sitting. YES this book is fabulous. I found it at the Westmead Children's Hospital Book Bunker where I work as a volunteer. The Map of Leaves was published by Chicken House in 2022. I flew through all 300+ pages.  I do hope you can find this book - and that I have convinced you to read it!  Take a look at this review which has lots of text quotes. You can read sample pages from this book here. 

I read a review that suggested this book as a companion read. I have added this title to my enormous "to read" list:

Plantastic! A to Z of Australian plants by Catherine Clowes illustrated by Rachel Gyan

"Australia is an amazing place, with many unique animals and plants. ... Do you know much about Australian native plants? Do you know that there are some Australian native plants that trap and eat insects? And others with seeds that are spread around in poo? ... If you don't know much about Australian native plants, don't worry; once you've read this book, you'll know heaps." (from the introduction to Plantastic). 

My friend Dr Robin Morrow and I are working on a virtual presentation for IBBY Australia which explores Alphbabet books. Plantastic is not really intended to be an alphabet book but it uses the twenty-six letters of the English alphabet as a way to organise the content.

In this book you can read about familiar Australian flowering plants - Acacia, Banksia, Christmas Bush, Gum Tree, Kangaroo Paw, and Tree Fern.  And others that are less familiar (to me) -  Rice Flower, Noon Flower, Yam Daisy, and Ziera.  

It is clear an enormous amount of research has gone into creating the illustrations for Plantastic. You can see inside this book here. 

This book contains accurate botanical and colourful illustrations which delight the reader. The illustrations are consistently positioned on each page with one larger size illustration on the left side and smaller details on the opposite pate to highlight specific traits of each plant such as flowers or fruits. 

The half title page and title page invite the reader to explore the plants contained in this A to Z book. The final end paper gives young readers an excellent visual representation of the scientific names for the parts of plants. Special mention needs to be made of leaves of each plant. These are done both artistically but also with scientific accuracy. The addition of a bee on front and back the covers, on the first pages and again on second last spread gives a sense of completion to the book and also adds a touch of whimsy. The bees work like bookends to the text. 

Catherine Clowes is a botantist and a teacher which means the text in this book is both scientific and easy to read. Here is the web site for the illustrator Rachel Gyan. 

After reading this book with a young child it might be fun to spend time identifying all of the plants on the front cover. And when you go on a bush walk you could snap some photos and then come home and see if the plants in your area are included in Plantastic. 

Plantastic contains extensive back matter - a distribution map, and a detailed glossary. I especially love the botanical illustrations and the activity which is suggested on each page:

Hibiscus "See if you can spot some pollen in a Hibiscus flower. If you touch it you might notice a few pollen grains fall off onto your finger. You could even try transferring some of this pollen from your finger to the pistil of another flower, just like a pollinator!"

Many years ago I had this little book about our Sydney bush in my school library. It could be a good one to compare with Plantastic:

Animal explorers: Lola the plant hunter by Sharon Rentta

Lola, the polar bear, longs for adventure. She has heard stories from her Grandpa Reggie about the exotic flowers of the world that he found on his adventures as a plant hunter. He tells Lola about one very special plant that he longed to find. The elusive 'Singing Orchid'.  It is only found deep in the Amazon jungle. This is the perfect adventure for young Lola. She has inherited her grandfather's passion for adventure. Packing is a fun challenge, though. Her trusty friend, a white hare called O'Hare, tries to help. She certainly does not need to pack ice cubes!

After her long journey to the bottom of the world, Lola reaches the Amazon. She makes botanical drawings of all the wondrous plants but none of them can sing. She continues her search and keeps careful notes in her diary but one morning a monkey yells out a warning - a huge storm is coming. The group of animals are washed away and find themselves washed up against a huge tree. The storm dies down and Lola hears a magical sound. With the help of her new friends, she climbs up into the branches of the tree:

"... there they were!  Dozens of Singing Orchids. Lola couldn't believe her eyes or her ears. They were so beautiful. And they really were singing."

Post edit - I did share a link to the singing orchid but a careful and kind reader pointed out that this was an April Fools 'joke', so I have deleted this reference and I have apologized for the misleading information and distress caused to the child who was disappointed to discover this is not a real plant. I guess the people at Cool Earth thought this was funny when they posted it on 1st April, 2015. 

The next page, though, is the best one in this book because it gives the reader a profile of three real life plant explorers - women of past centuries - Jeanne Baret (1740-1807); Ynes Mexia (1870-1938); and Marianne North (1830-1890). 

Here is a painting by Marianne North:

Yes this is a book for a younger reader aged 4+ but it also a book an older reader will enjoy. It certainly made me curious to discover more about these famous plant explorers.

Sharon Rentta has several books in her series Animal but I think The Plant Hunter is the only title with this additional information.

The Big book of Blooms by Yuval Zommer

There are two things I post on Instagram - book covers and flowers. The Big Book of Blooms is a book about flowers - perfect! Here are some flowers from my area I photographed over the last year.

In this photo you can see Australian native flowers such as the Bottlebrush and my favourite Flannel Flower along with "exotics" such as Hibiscus, Camellia and Bird of Paradise.

Open The Big Book of Blooms. The opening end paper is very special - a dandelion blowing in the wind. The table of contents shows how the flowers in this book are organised. Here are a few examples: Pollinator; Sunflowers; Pitcher Plants; Seeds and seed dispersal; Bird of paradise Flower; Tulips; Cacti; Roses; Giant water lilies; and Cherry Blossoms.

Things I discovered:

• Roses need 15.4 Litres of water to make one flower.
• The underside of a lily pad is covered in sharp spines to protect them from fish.
• Many cactus flowers bloom at night.
• The orange trumpet vine (I have one in my photo collage above) is nicknamed "orange thudg" because it can easily crush other plants using its strong trendrils.
• The bird of paradise flower is pollinated by small birds.

This is a perfect non fiction book. It contains a glossary and an extensive index. There is also fun to be had as you hunt for 15 golden bulbs scattered throughout the book and a page of advice for young gardeners who are now inspired to grow their own blooms. After reading and revisiting this book your young reader might be curious to know more so you should head over to your local library Dewey Number 582.13 to explore more books about the world of flowers.

This has to be my favourite non-fiction title at the moment. Published in association with the Kew Gardens, this is a gorgeous exploration of flowering plants- with a search and find element thrown in. Well indexed. Beautifully illustrated.  Perfectly designed.  As all books should be! Paul Macdonald Children’s Bookshop Facebook comment

This title pairs picture-book charm and concise, informative text to create a beautiful book for children to return to. Zommer’s quirky illustrations appeal to young readers, who will relish these fun and amazing facts about the world’s most exciting plants. MandarinReaders


Here are the other 'big books' by Yuval.

In 2019 I was standing in a bookshop in either London or Edinburgh and I watched Yuval signing some of his 'big books'.  Wish I was a person with more courage. I should have talked to him - silly me - opportunity missed.

The Keeper of Wild Words by Brooke Smith illustrated by Madeline Kloepper

Words disappear if we don't share them when we talk.

If we don't write them in our stories.

If we don't read them in our books.

If we don't use words, they can be forgotten.

And if they're forgotten ... they disappear.

Take a look at these images:

If you read a picture book about a otter then, especially if you are an Australian child, you will discover a new animal. If someone shares the brilliant Margaret Mahy book The Pumpkin Man and the crafty creeper with a child they might talk about ivy as an example of a plant that creeps. Perhaps you have willow pattern china - of course you would want to share the famous story of the willow pattern.  Otter, Willow and Ivy are just three of the words that the Oxford Junior Dictionary decided to delete a few years ago.  Here are some others:

acorn, adder, ash, beech, bluebell, buttercup, catkin, conker, cowslip, cygnet, dandelion, fern, hazel, heather, heron, ivy, kingfisher, lark, mistletoe, nectar, newt, otter, and willow. Source Listen and Learn

These deletions, Brooke Smith explains, made her feel  "disillusioned and ultimately very sad." Especially when compared with the replacement words: chatroom, voicemail, conflict, database and vandalism.

When we read a book, especially as a child, we often find new words. If you find an unfamiliar word I'm not sure I would think to grab a dictionary - perhaps a child will ask an adult or a friend, or they will 'skip' the word. Do writers use dictionaries to find inspiring words? Probably not. BUT somehow it seems wrong to remove words from a dictionary. Oxford said these words were removed because they were not in current use. These were mainly words that give names to things in nature. They argue that urban children don't use these words. Certainly an Australian child is unlikely to encounter an otter, a lark or a conker in real life but then again an Australian child is lucky because he or she can read books in English and discover these animals and plants in stories. I have fond memories of a childhood book that contained a conker. I had no idea about this but from the text (and perhaps an illustration) I could make some sense that it was a tree nut and that it was very tough and good to use for a 'smashing' game. As you can see the controversy around deleting words from a junior dictionary raises so many questions and viewpoints.  Here is what Oxford University Press said about their decision.

In this story young Brooke visits her grandmother Mimi. Mimi is a writer. She invites Brooke to come outside and help with her task as Keeper - The Keeper of Wild Words. The pair explore the countryside with a plan to find 19 words which Mimi has on her list such as doe, drake, poppy, porcupine, willow and wren.

On each page they make a new discovery. They taste blackberries, smell mint, blow a dandelion, and watch a flock of starlings high in the sky. 

By the end of the day they have found every word on the list but Mimi has one more surprise.  Remember there were 19 words on the list.

"You know my favourite wild word is not on the list ... It's standing right in front of me."  It is a BROOK.  "You were named after this tiny stream that your mother always cherished."

At the back of the book there is an envelope which you can use to keep your own 'wild words". My copy of this book came from a wonderful school library but I am quite tempted to put a few words into the envelope for the next young reader to discover.

Brooke Smith says: "Nature has always been a crucial part of my life, and my daughter Mimi’s, too. We were fortunate enough to raise her on our property in Bend, Oregon with many of these wild words naturally present. I wanted to write a book that would allow children everywhere to experience the beauty of nature and feel what it’s like to wander and explore." Nerdy Book Club

The expedition is described in vivid language, organized as free verse in single sentences or short paragraphs. Key words are printed in color in a larger display type and capital letters. Sensory details allow the protagonist to hear, see, smell, taste, and hold the wild. Kirkus

By coincidence here The Keeper of Wild Words another book which celebrates Grandmothers and it is one where we see them as young and vibrant. I talked about this in My Forever Dress earlier today.

The Keeper of Wild Words comes from the US with a Canadian illustrator Madeline Kloepper. In the UK another book inspired by the removal of words from the dictionary is the award winning The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane illustrated by Jackie Morris. The Lost Words won the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2019 and the Beautiful Book Award in 2017.

I would pair The Keeper of Wild words with these books:

Daniel finds a poem

I am the seed that grew the tree

The Brilliant ideas of Lily Green by Lisa Siberry

Lily's mum owns a hairdressing and beauty salon. Lily's older sister Faye works there too. Faye loves all the fuss over hair styles, nail polish and beauty treatments. None of this interests Lily but she does love to invent. It is her job to clean the salon and so she is very familiar with the ingredients in the products sold in the salon. Lily does not like the idea of crushed beetles in nail polish so she sets about creating her own 'natural' formula for skin cream and lip gloss.

One day when she is cleaning an expensive bottle of shampoo crashes to the floor. Lily hides this disaster by refilling the bottle with a concoction of her own. She uses ingredients from the kitchen but it does not smell right. She needs to add orange. There is an orange tree hanging over the back fence with one perfect orange. Lily picks the orange and straight away we know this shampoo is going to be special - in a good way or perhaps in a disastrous way.

"I stood on tiptoe and plucked the orange. The air was still, but I could have sworn the jagged tooth-like leaves of the tree shivered."

Lily and Faye only have one week to save the salon which is also their home. Business has been bad since a rival salon opened at the shopping mall.  Perhaps this new shampoo will save the day.

The Brilliant ideas of Lily Green is a delicious romp filled with friendships (old and new), delightful combinations of ingredients which make the beauty products sound appealing and a little touch of magic (good and bad) that comes from the plants that gown in the mysterious garden next door.

I really enjoyed all the names of the beauty products, their wild ingredients and the crazy results from using them:

Glue Goo - holds your style in place after you shampoo no hair spray or gel needed
Happy Hair Sparkle Mist - no more hair tangles
Lip Switch - lip gloss to match your mood
Spraynbow - rainbow hair to match your mood (watch out this one is dangerous)

A refreshing, inventive story full of mischief and dollops of gloop for readers aged 9+. Readings

This book was the winner of the Ampersand Prize in 2017. You can listen to an interview with Lisa Siberry here. Another Ampersand winner that I loved last year was Ottilie Colter and the Narroway Hunt.

I am the Seed that grew the Tree Part Two

I Am the Seed That Grew the Tree is the size of 12 picture books, with 334 illustrated pages and 366 poems spanning the last four centuries.  Frann Preston-Gannon illustrator

The quote above comes from Frann who illustrated this book. Here is an interview where you can read how she illustrated of I am the Seed that Grew the Tree. What a mammoth task it was to illustrate so many pages. We are so lucky she took on this task - the final book is one to treasure.  I mentioned I will share a poem or two from this glorious book from time to time.

Here are a few more for you to enjoy:

January 21st

Over wintry wind-whipped waves

The white-winged  seagulls wildly sweep:

Weaving, winding, wheeling, whistling,

Where the wide waste waters weep.

Anonymous

July 16th

When the heat of the summer

Made drowsy the land,

A dragonfly came

And sat on my hand,

with its blue joined body,

And wings like spun glass,

It lit on my fingers

As though they were grass.

Eleanor Farjeon

August 7th

THE SHELL

On the shelf in my bedroom stands a shell.

If I hold it close, I can smell

The salty sea.

I can hear the slap

Of the waves as they lap

The sandy shore.

I can feel once more

The tickling tide

As it gently flows between my toes.

John Foster

A friend mentioned this book had a different cover in the US.  I tracked it down - this wasn't easy because it also has a different title. I wonder why?  The Kirkus review says majestic and inspiring as nature itself.   You can see 66 pages inside the book which is the same as the UK version on the publisher web site.

The plant sitter by Gene Zion illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham

First off a warning - The Plant Sitter is a very old (1959) book and so it is out of print.  Many months ago I stumbled across this illustration by Margaret Bloy Graham and I liked it so much I used it as my ipad screen image.  I knew Margaret Bloy Graham from her glorious Harry the Dirty dog books but until today I did not know which book contained this picture.

With Summer holidays approaching this is a book to share.  "You said I could do whatever I liked this summer because we weren't going away on holiday."  Tommy is an enterprising boy.  He finds a job as a plant sitter and he gets a penny a day for each plant.  You can see in the picture above he will be making lots of money!  He also a boy who knows how to care for plants :

"He put those that needed shade on the shady side - and those that needed sun on the sunny side. He watered them carefully - some a lot - and others just a little."

The plants grow and grow and take over the house but Tommy is also a problem solver.  He heads off to the library, reads a book or two about plants and comes home knowing how to propagate cuttings.  When the plant owners return from their holiday they collect their thriving plants and Tommy is able to give baby plants to all the children.  His father has not coped with having a jungle in his house but when it is gone he realises he liked them.  "It was like being in the country ... How about a holiday ... And the very next day they went to the country."

Here is a generous review with many of the pages.  On this blog the author links three books together with a gardening theme.  Here is the Kirkus star review.

Teacup by Rebecca Young illustrated by Matt Ottley

I would like to start this review with a quote from Matt Ottley (found in the Australian Standing Orders notes Primary Picture Book No. 3, 2015)

Matt Ottley says :

"What spoke to me most about Teacup was quite simply that it was the most beautiful picture book story I'd ever read.  It is such a huge story about the human spirit, about loss and grief, love and joy, about beauty and also high adventure.  Yet it's told in such a spare, minimal way, like a piece of poetry, that there was room for me to interpret the words in so many ways, 

which is an artist's dream."

Teacup is the third book by Rebecca Young and a look at her previous titles (Button Boy and The skunk with no funk) you can see how much she is developing as an author. Teacup is such a profound text and so different from her earlier books.

"Once there was a boy who had to leave home and find another"

There is so much to discuss from these opening lines.  Why did he have to leave?  Who will travel with him?  Will it be a long journey?  Will there be dangers?  Where is he going?

"In his bag he carried .. "

What would you take?  Would this change if you had plenty of time to prepare?  What would you take if you only have a few minutes to flee?

"he carried a book, a bottle and a blanket.  In his teacup held some earth from where he used to play."

This line reminds me of an old book called The Green book which is about people from Earth who are forced to flee to live on a different planet.  While the people do take practical things to set up the new colony there is one little girl who takes a blank book. In Teacup, the boy also takes the practical things for his survival along with his cup.  Teacup also reminded me of Tanglewood. Not just because of the tree and the wild seas but because of the tone - hope for the future.

"where he used to play"

These are such chilling words. The pieces of text I have quoted here come from the first double page spread which should show the amazing depth of this writing.  I think it will be important to read this book very slowly and to explore it several times.

I am really looking forward to discussing this book with my senior students.  I know they will have brilliant ideas that move beyond the literal.  I also know that my own appreciation of this book will grow even stronger as my students share their insights.

I also plan to compare this book from the CBCA Notables list with Flight which has also been nominated along with another important refugee story -  Ziba came by boat.  We will also look at The treasure box by Margaret Wild and My Dog by John Heffernan - both titles from previous CBCA short lists.  These both deal with the trauma of leaving your home and travelling into the unknown.

It might be good to compare the page with the ominous clouds with the page in The Arrival by Shaun Tan.

Teacup is sure to be short listed for the CBCA Picture book of the Year award.  I cannot decide if Teacup or Flight will win - perhaps there might be two winners for 2016!

Here is a set of very detailed teacher notes.