Plantopedia
is an extraordinary encyclopaedia of plants. I can’t speak too highly of
this publication.
It’s visually stunning, textually detailed, and overall a
mine full of gems of information for all ages.
Readers will be astonished by
the names of the plants, which is one of the most interesting aspects of this
incredible plant collection. There are maps to be found in the Homebodies section on plants that grow
in one place.
Each plant has been set out under headings that are
humorous and entertaining, such as the indoor plants which clean the air - the Air Fresheners. The Aquatics are plants that live in water such as Water Mint,
Watercress, the Western Marsh Orchid, and the toxic Bog Arum. The Healers are plants that heal -
naturally.
Every page is fully illustrated inside a black
border and depicts the animals and people that depend on specific plants for
life. The 50 entries full of brilliant colour and detail are represented in
humorous and expressive comical spreads designed to attract and keep children’s
interest.
The
Cereals section gives us maize, oats wheat, and millet,
spelt barley, rye and buckwheat, giving younger readers the opportunity to
learn about what they eat, where it grows and how. The Confused Fruits show us the fruits that think they’re
vegetables. Everyone gets confused about this lot.
The deciduous trees, the evergreens, plants that
are used for dyes, garden vegies, and fruits you must peel before eating, are
all shown in eye-catching detail. The garden vegies include all root vegetables
and are shown side on in the earth so children can see how their roots appear
beneath the soil.
The
Giants are Elephant Cactus, the Kapok and Banyan trees,
Oregon Maple, Coco de mer whose seeds are the biggest in the world, and the
Coast Redwood.
I could wax lyrical about this stylishly
publication but I don’t want to spoil the joy of discovery. It’s a valuable reference book that informs,
educates and entertains simultaneously.
Whether your first choice is a Strangling fig, an Autograph Tree,
the Tropical, or the Transformers, or if you have an interest
in leaf shapes, arrangements, veins and edges, you can track them down in the
detailed index and glossary at the end.
Title: Plantopedia
Author/
Illustrator: Adrienne Barman
Publisher:
Allen & Unwin, $29.99
Publication
Date: April 2018
Format:
Hardcover
ISBN:
9781786031389
For
ages: 5 - 8
Type:
Non Fiction
