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In Grandma’s Garden

Nov22
In Grandma's Garden

In Grandma’s Garden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Grandma’s Garden

Judy Cannon

Verena Heirich

Little Steps, 2025

20pp., pbk., RRP $A16.95

9781923306288

It’s summer and Grandma’s garden is in full bloom and, as well as the grandchildren,  such lovely flowers are going to attract all sorts of visitors.

So just what is hiding amongst the flowers and the foliage?

Young readers are going to enjoy predicting and discovering what is concealed beneath the flaps in this brightly illustrated book, with its repetitive text and alliteration to test the tongue. There are some critters they will be familiar with, others not-so, and it might even inspire them to investigate what might be in their own gardens, perhaps even creating their own extra page for the book.

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

It also offers an opportunity to start them thinking about why gardens, flowers and the minibeasts that dwell there are an essential part of our ecosystem, learning about pollination and the kinds of things that they, even as little ones, can do to help protect and preserve various species.

This is from the team who created Who has the biggest mouth?, and like that, it offers a springboard that helps little ones learn about the world around them.

 

 

The Peach King

Oct3
The Peach King

The Peach King

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Peach King

Inga Simpson

Tannya Harricks

Lothian Children’s, 2025

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780734418517

In the orchard, an ancient tree whose tangled branches form a crown, the Peach King watches over the younger trees as they grow and change as Mother Nature and the seasons cycle, warning of weather and calling the birds when the grasshoppers threaten.  Little Peach Tree blossoms and fruits, loses its leaves and shivers through winter in the endless rotation of life as the weather works through the annual patterns of life on the far south coast of New South Wales.  

But changes are coming as the rains come less often, the neighbouring forest turns brown, Peach King’s limbs turn brittle and fall, and as the air itself crackles and shimmers, people came and picked every peach, ready or not, off the branches…

And then comes the fire…

Described as “a contemporary fable about the resilience of nature” because eventually the rains come and while the Peach King is lost, Little Peach Tree and the others in the orchard, literally dig deep and begin the cycle again, it is in the author’s notes that the origins of the story are revealed – the Black Summer of 2019-2020 when the fire dragon devoured so much of the south-east of NSW, particularly the Currowan fire which began just north of Bateman’s Bay and raged for 74 days destroying so much in its relentless push eastward as it joined with other fires, stopped only when it reached the sea, and the torrential rains which finally fell in February. So while this is a story about the strength and endurance of Mother Nature as the trees sprout new growth, the birds return and the Little Peach Tree’s limbs twist and grow into a crown, because the impact of the fire is still being felt, and fire season is on our doorstep again, it could be a trigger for some who are still recovering. 

Beyond that though, this is a story that explores the concept of life cycles, the constant renewal of life in the landscape,  generational change  as young grow and mature and take their place as leaders while acknowledging and building on those who have gone before, all supported in various ways through the artistry of Harricks, so as well as possibly being a trigger it could also be a pathway forward as despite the devastation, the reader is taken beyond that to a thriving future. As well as personal memories – we, ourselves, evacuated twice – there are plenty of images of blackened landscapes that record how it was, and how, five years on, the extent of the recovery is evident.  The ‘then’ scars are still evident, but the ‘now’ images are visible, offering hope and expectation of a more positive future. 

As with most other books, how this one is interpreted will depend on what existing knowledge is brought to the reading.  For those who did not or have not been through the experience, it offers scope for delving deeper into climate change, environment and sustainability and other phenomena, while for those who remember the time when the sky was black at midday and even breathing was difficult, it offers a chance to reflect and mark the milestones that have been achieved and continue moving forward. 

 

 

The Stuff that Stuff is Made of… Things we make from plants

Sep29
The Stuff that Stuff is Made of - the things we make from plants

The Stuff that Stuff is Made of – the things we make from plants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Stuff that Stuff is Made of…

Things we make from plants

Jonathan Drori

Raxenne Manaquiz & Jiatong Liu

Magic Cat, 2025

64pp., hbk., RRP $A34.99

9781917044172

Did you know that plants are made from just two main ingredients – carbon dioxide and water?  Recently, I sat in my local hairdressing salon mesmerized by half a dozen tiny fish swimming in and around the roots of a spathiphyllum that stood shiny and healthy in a tall cylinder of water – no soil, compost or anything else – and both fish and plant seemed very happy.  (Of course, I had to try it at home – the plants are doing well, the fish not-so.) But as I read the intro of this fascinating book, one of those you don’t know you want to read until you do, and learned that plants are basically CO2 and H2O with “just a smattering” of other nutrients from the soil, it was obvious why they were thriving in just water.

And yet, apart from the food we eat, we are dependent on plants in countless other ways – some of which are explored in this new release, many of them common, and others more obscure.  Young readers will probably know that everyday stuff like tea and chocolate and sugar come from plants, but which plants give us fabric, perfumes and even the heatshield of the Space Shuttle? Why do Tasmania’s Blue Gum Eucalyptus globulus and the strange baobab Adansonia digitata each earn a place among the 30 entries? Why is there seaweed in our icecream and dandelions in our tyres? 

Packed with stunning illustrations, cross-sections and diagrams, each entry has a large double page spread packed with all sorts of information including a lot that is unexpected, that will not only intrigue young readers but give them a whole new respect for the plants around them.  They will begin to question where the things they are most familiar with originate from, understand the sustainability of items made from natural sources and perhaps appreciate that while plastic and its cousins may have been one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century, it is the curse of the 21st.  

This is one of those dip-and-delve books that will capture the imagination of any young reader with an interest in the world around them – even if all they do is put a plant in a vase of water and watch it thrive, put a white flower in a glass of water coloured with food dye, or even just sprinkle grass seed in a tray of potting mix in the shape of their initials and watch their name grow.  There are so many simple things that can start a lifelong fascination. And Spring is the perfect time to start. 

Superhero Plants

Jul18
Superhero Plants

Superhero Plants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Superhero Plants

Chris Packham

Jake Williams

Farshore, 2025

32pp., hbk., RRP $A19.99

9780008503628

Children learn from an early age how important plants are to our survival by giving us food to eat, water to drink,  clean air to breathe,  and a liveable climate providing a critical and crucial role in the planet’s ecosystem,   But while there are an estimated 391,000 known species of vascular plants, with about 369,000 of those being flowering plants, since humans first appeared, they are becoming extinct 500 times faster than expected because of habitat loss.

Yet we tend to take them for granted – and some which are particularly important to life like mangroves, seaweed, tiny ferns and even the sphagnum mosses of the peat bogs are being actively destroyed one way or another.  In the new addition to the Little Experts series, a collection of non fiction written by experts specifically for the newly emerging independent reader, Chris Packham explains the vital role plants play is our existence as a collective kingdom as well as individual species.  Whether it’s giving us a personal lift as we stop to smell a rose or admire the colours of the autumn leaves, or healing us through the medicinal properties of their seeds, leaves, fruit and bark or providing the impetus for developing amazing technology, Britain’s  naturalist and TV presenter Chris Packham clearly and succinctly shows why we are so dependent on them and why we need to actively support their continue growth while protecting what we still have.  Whether it’s growing our own or not mowing what we have, learning to appreciate what we have while leaving what we have alone for  Mother Nature to do her thing, there are many small ways even a young child can contribute.  

Little Experts is a series designed to introduce 6-9 year olds to the world around them by having experts in the field share their knowledge in easily accessible explanations accompanied by rich illustrations, , and even though they, themselves, may not recognise the names of the experts who are mostly UK based,  nevertheless having titles about everyday things that our little ones are curious about and pitched at their level can only be a positive addition to  non fiction collections.

While there is a growing awareness of the dangers our planet’s fauna faces, this one, especially, reminds us that the flora is just as vulnerable and without it, there will be no fauna. 

 

The Wonderful World of Carnivorous Plants

Apr26
The Wonderful World of Carnivorous Plants

The Wonderful World of Carnivorous Plants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wonderful World of Carnivorous Plants

Suzanne Houghton 

CSIRO Publishing, 2025

32pp., hbk., RRP $A26.99

9781486319527

The world is full of unique plants, in many shapes and colours.

But one group clearly stands apart, that not quite like the others.

For most plants it’s the soil and sun helping them to thrive.

But these plants also feed on meet to help them stay alive.

How exactly do these plants find what they want to eat?

It’s not like they can chase their food . They don’t have any feet! 

And with those introductory lines, Suzanne Houghton takes the reader  on yet another fascinating journey into the natural world, this time exploring and explaining how this genus of plants survives, each species with its own adaptations to catch and capture its prey.  With illustrations deliberately enlarged so details can be clearly seen,  and the clever use of rhyme so the text doesn’t become dry and dusty, we learn about the various types of plants, their habits and habitats, and their contribution to their ecosystems with more information provided in conventional text in the back matter.  Teachers’ notes take the investigation further, beginning with walking around the school grounds identifying plants and how they stay alive but also setting them up to explore the adaptations that plants make so they can thrive in their particular environment. 

Even as a ‘mature’ adult, I have learned so much from the CSIRO publications that cross my desk for review, and this is another quality read that has not only opened up new things to explore but once again, stirred wonder at the world around us.  

Rosie’s Garden

Apr18
Rosie’s Garden

Rosie’s Garden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rosie’s Garden

Olivia Coates

Samantha McLelland

EK Books, 2025

32pp., hbk.,  RRP $A27.99

9781921497056

Unless you took the time to look, few knew there was a garden on Lot 33.  Most people just hurried past, too engrossed in their own lives and thoughts to notice it, but to Rosie it was a sanctuary – one that she tended daily so that Mr Dellagatti can collects seeds, Annika can play her violin, Chad can chase rainbows and even Esmeralda the chicken can scratch for worms for breakfast!

So no one really notices when the lot is sold and instead of a little community garden, another towering skyscraper swallows the space.  But Rosie does – and she also sees the changes in the lives of those who enjoyed it as she did.   So when she has an idea that she is determined to put to the Big Boss even if that means going all the way to the top of the building, it could be a turning point.  But will the Big Boss listen?  And what will their reaction be?

This is not the first story book for young readers about a child’s determination to nurture their local green space – others include Orlando’s Garden, Butterfly Girl, The Concrete Garden, Let’s Build a Backyard, The Secret of Sapling Green, Tiny Wonders, andHarriet’s Hungry Worms among others,  – but it is yet another one to encourage young readers that, even though they are ‘just’ young readers, they can make a difference.  Whether it’s something as simple as placing a flowering plant on a balcony so that the insects have nectar to find, or starting with a spontaneous but transient chalk drawing, with determination, perseverance and resilience even children can have an impact on the environment.

Teachers’ notes  not only help explore the story in greater depth, but help students consider the vital question of, “Now that I know this, what can I do with my new knowledge?” perhaps becoming the impetus for a local project.  Even though, in many parts of Australia, cooler weather means the natural world is taking a rest, nevertheless it is the ideal time to begin planning… particularly at this time when we are surrounded by symbols and images of rebirth.  Even in the southern hemisphere, Spring will be here soon. 

 

Costa’s Garden: Flowers

Jan19
Costa's Garden: Flowers

Costa’s Garden: Flowers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costa’s Garden: Flowers

Costa Georgiadis

Brenna Quinlan

ABC Books, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780733343360

In days gone by, lessons about flowers focused on drawing diagrams, sometimes from real-life models, and labelling the parts with terms like petals, pistils, stamens, leaves and so on and that was pretty much it.

But did you know that flowers can be loudspeakers, billboards, memory-makers and even tell stories?

In the first of this new series of narrative non fiction picture books, gardening guru Costa Georgiadis invites young readers to put on their nature goggles and join him in his garden to take a closer look at the flowers that grow there.  But rather than a horticultural tome dumbed down for littlies and prettied up with pictures, it becomes an adventure as we wander through the flower patch and learn how flowers connect us to nature, and, indeed, nature to nature.

“They are a bit like a bum and undies.  They go together.”

As each page is turned and we are presented with stunning illustrations of actual flowers we learn about their critical role in maintaining both the balance in nature and human wellbeing as we learn how flowers engage our heart, head and hands. 

“I believe in gardening the soil as well as the soul.”

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

Over the past few years there have been a number of books for younger readers that have raised awareness about the importance of the local environment, and particularly, the critical predicament of the insects and minibeasts that live there as there habitat diminishes and thus their ability to carry out their vital function in Nature is threatened, and this has inspired many to plant gardens, even if that is just a flower box on a balcony.  But this is one of a few that actually examines what is being planted, how it grows, and its connections and contributions to big picture.  It encourages readers to see and feel the joy in nature, explore its wonders and marvel at how the tiniest things can have the most enormous impact. If the previous books haven’t inspired them to go outside and get their hands dirty, then this one does because who could resist not only being surrounded by the colour, smell and miracles of flowers but also doing something, even if it’s small, to make their world that bit more magical.

“With our nature goggles on, the more we look, the more we learn, the more we learn the more we understand…the more we understand the more prepared we are to act. And when we act, we fall more and more in love with nature.” 

Perhaps taking a troubled child for a walk through a flower-filled garden and then helping them create one of their own could be just the therapy they need.  

Kind Little Hands

Jan15
Kind Little Hands

Kind Little Hands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kind Little Hands

Kathy Urban

Sally Garland

Little Steps, 2024

32pp., pbk., RRP $A16.99

9781922678423

When a tired, hungry and lost little bee falls into Noah’s hands as he walks through the city with his grandfather, it is a chance encounter that becomes a learning journey for Noah.  His wise grandfather knows just how important bees are, and how to revive this one even though they live in an apartment.  Because while they might not have a garden, they do have a window box of flowers and it’s amazing how restorative a syrup of water and sugar can be.

As they wait for the bee to recover, Noah and his grandfather share books about bees so Noah learns more and more about the importance of these creatures as well as other insects. so that when the bee does eventually fly away, Noah’s efforts continue…

This is another story to add to the collection about bees and pollination so that our youngest readers are aware of the critical contribution bees make to the ecosystem, and with its suggestions of how they, themselves, can be pro-active and help in their protection and preservation.  

The Christmas Garden

Dec14

 

 

 

The Christmas Garden

The Christmas Garden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Christmas Garden

Caroline Tuohey

Sandra Severigni

Little Pink Dog Books, 2019

32pp., hbk., RRP $A2.95

9780648256342

There’s a garden across from my house that’s sublime, as it looks like Christmas there all of the time…

With breathtaking pine trees, a seat the resembles a sleigh, statues of angels and gnomes that could be elves hiding amongst the flowers, it has all the magic and mystery that one could dream of, and to add to the mystique the old fellow who owns it looks just like Santa Claus.

Could this be Santa’s hideaway from the North Pole, especially as it takes on a whole new life as Christmas approaches?  What secret sorcery happens on Christmas Eve?  Well, that’s between Mr Dawes and the watcher from across the street, who is not who you imagine.

Lyrical text in rhyme and soft-palette illustrations bring this whimsical story celebrating the power of imagination and wonder to life, making it a unique addition to the Christmas Countdown.  Little ones can close their eyes and just imagine the wonderland that is this special place, and as the time draws near and they see the beautiful Christmas gardens that their neighbours create for them, they will not only be drawn into the story but their imaginations will soar.

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

Off to the Nursery

Nov25
Off to the Nursery

Off to the Nursery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Off to the Nursery

Alice Oehr

Scribble, 2024

30oo., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781761381140

Spring is here, and it’s time to plant the garden. We’re planning to grow tomatoes, lettuce, and herbs — and maybe even add some worms! What else should we plant? Which flowers are best for attracting bees? And how do we care for everything?

With kitchen gardens planted, tended and eaten by school students becoming an integral part of both the playground and the curriculum in many schools, the interest in growing your own food is spreading to the home situation but there are many parents who have no idea where to start.

So this new book from the author of Artichoke to Zucchini that follows a family’s excursion to the local nursery not only capitalises on that interest but provides lots of information about plants and their needs so even the novice can get started.  More narrative non fiction than narrative but more than just a beginner’s guide, it inspires readers to pull on their gardening gloves to get started.  

A category search of this blog for plants and gardens offers a number of suggestions for books that demonstrate the increasing awareness in the preservation of the flora of the planet, and that it is, in fact more important than the fauna for without food, no one and nothing will eat, and while many students will understand the importance of pollination, bees and so on, they may be at a loss as to what they can do.  This practical addition to that collection offers the answers – even if all they have is a window sill or a balcony as so many find themselves in high-rise living and schooling!.