Plants Fight Back

 Plants Fight Back 

by Lisa Amstutz; illus. by Rebecca Evans 

32 pages; ages 4-8

Dawn Publications, 2020     

theme: plants, nature, rhyme

It’s tough being rooted when danger is near. So what do plants do?

When you’re threatened by danger, you can run away. Plants can’t. But they can fight back. Some use needles and prickers. Some use poison. Some exude sticky stuff to trap intruders. And some use disguises so hungry herbivores don’t recognize them. And, like you, some plants call for help!

What I like about this book: I love the attitude that author Lisa Amstutz imbues within these plants. They are feisty! They are sneaky! They are determined to survive! Each spread introduces a plant defense in verse, accompanied by a sidebar that gives more context. I particularly love the scene with cotton plants calling in the “air force”. When attacked by caterpillars, cotton – and other plants – release a mix of chemicals into the air. Those chemicals signal to wasps that “food for larvae” is available. The wasps lay their eggs inside caterpillars and, when the wasp larvae hatch they eat the caterpillars from the inside out. Gross but cool, right?

Beyond the Books:

What sort of defenses do the plants around your house use? If you can visit a plant conservatory, look for plants with prickers and thorns, thick milky sap, spicy fruits (like a hot pepper), or other defenses.

Plants calling on insects for help sounds pretty weird. You can read more about parasitic wasps, and see a video, here.

Design a plant that can “fight back.” What superpower will your plant have? How will it work? Draw a picture of make a model of your plant.

Lisa Amstutz is a member of #STEAMTeambooks. You can find out more about her at her website.

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.

Explorer Outdoors ~ the little tree that might

 

The other day we were walking in the woods and came upon this tiny pine growing out of an old pine stump. Nothing in this forest is wasted. A tree feeds and houses a diversity of living things, even in its demise. 

This fall and winter, explore the places close to you: your backyard, the neighborhood park, flower pots and tubs on the balcony. Look for signs of new life growing out of old.

Marjory Saves the Everglades

 

Marjory Saves the Everglades: The Story of Marjory Stoneman Douglas 
by Sandra Neil Wallace; illus. by Rebecca Gibbon 
56 pages; ages 4-8
Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2020   

theme: environment, biography, STEM

Before airplanes and automobiles, a girl in gold-rimmed glasses sailed on a steamboat to Florida.

I don’t know about you, but after reading that first line I really want to know who she is and why she’s heading to Florida. And whether her parents know about this.

Whew! Yes, parents are there. And young Marjory, having bitten into sweet oranges, has developed a taste for the southern state. But she and her mom end up living in the north, where Marjory explores the outdoors and, eventually, college. And later, returns to Florida where she reunites with her father and writes for his newspaper, the Miami Herald.

Marjory wrote about how women should get the vote. And later, when developers began digging and draining the Everglades, she began writing about the environment. After a trip to the Everglades aboard a houseboat, she lobbied the National Park Service to include the Everglades as a park. She also began asking questions: were the Everglades really a swamp? She donned boots, grabbed a trowel, and began digging… to discover that what looked like a swamp was really a river. Slow-moving, but a river. Putting pen to paper, she began to write – and fight – to save the Everglades.

What I like about this book: This is the perfect book for kids who wonder if their voice will count. Marjory Stoneman Douglas may have been only one person, but she made a difference. I like that she shows how a person, no matter what their age, can learn new things, and use their skills to save what they love. There is also back matter: an author’s note, a brief introduction to Everglades species, resources, and tips for protecting the environment. The most important tip: NEVER GIVE UP!

Beyond the Books:
Where is your favorite place in nature? Take a few minutes to write about why you like it. If it’s close by, go visit and take some photos. Write about how this place is important to the local plants, wildlife, and people.

Take a virtual tour of the Everglades. You can find one here at the National Park site.

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 Blue Slip Media.