Some Flowers are Just Weird

It's gettin' on towards summer, and that means... flowers! Sure, we've had some flowers blooming in and around our yard. Dandelions, violets, wild strawberries, dead nettle. But now that the weather's warming up, I expect to see lots more flowers blooming. It's the perfect time to grab a copy of...

Flowers Are Pretty ... Weird! 

by Rosemary Mosco; illus. by Jacob Souva 

36 pages; ages 4-8

Tundra Books, 2022

theme: nature, flowers

Hi! I’m a bee. And there’s one thing that a bee adores more than anything else … FLOWERS!

For bees, there’s so much about flowers to like: their bright colors and their sweet nectar. But here’s the truth about flowers: they are fascinating, disgusting, complicated, and some are downright weird. They have strange shapes. They could be poisonous. Or stinky. They might grow way up in the sky, or open only at night when bees are snoozzzzing in their nests. What good is that? In addition to learning about strange adaptations of flowers, readers gain insight into how pollination works.

What I like about this book: I like the bee as narrator – and the sassy commentary he (she? they?) provides as they lead you on a tour through the flower world. I also like the way they offer readers an opportunity to opt out of the tour: “if you want to join me, turn the page. If you don’t, close this book and buzz right off.” 

I like the flowers chosen as examples of the weird: Dragon Fruit and Wolfsbane, Starfish flowers and the Corpse lily. And there is Back Matter, where kids can learn more about the flowers highlighted in the book as well as where to find them.

And did I say I love the illustrations? No? Well, I do! The bee may be a cartoonish character, but the flowers are spot-on.

 

Beyond the Books:

Visit a greenhouse or conservatory and look for weird flowers. You can meet 40 of the worlds weirdest flowers here. 

Go on a flower walk. Admire flowers growing in your neighborhood and draw a picture of your favorite. Or take photos of the flowers and create a flower map for visiting bees (and butterflies).

Use flower petals in art – and check out more activities here.

Invent a weird flower and explain what its Flower Powers are.

Go on a flower scavenger hunt, but instead of bringing home samples, bring home photos of what you find. Here’s one list of things to look for.

Today we're joining Perfect Picture Book Friday, an event where bloggers share great picture books at Susanna Leonard Hill's website. Review copy provided by the publisher.