BOTANY (See Crop Science, Ag Books for Kid )

Burton, Jane. The nature and science of leaves / Jane Burton and Kim Taylor. Milwaukee : Gareth Stevens Pub., 1997. 083681942X [Exploring the Science of Nature] Ages 9-12. Grade: A-

Solid introduction to the form and function of leaves. Answers such questions as why leaves are green. Also discusses special leaves, leaves as food, and falling leaves. Has a clean book design and good photos. A nice feature is an explanation of scientific names and a list of plants and animals highlighted in the book. Includes activities, glossary, bibliography, webography, and index. KWR 9-04

Cooper, Jason. Árboles [Trees] / Jason Cooper ; traducido por Blanca Rey. Vero Beach, Fla : Rourke Pub., 2003. [Bilingual: English/Spanish] Grade: A-

If you need a bilingual (English and Spanish) book on the (United) State Trees, this is your book. Interesting to note that the Spanish title receives the top billing and most prominence on the book cover. Each page discusses one state tree and the text is divided into two columns with the Spanish on the left and the English on the right of the page. Each tree has a painting of the whole tree and a close-up view of a branch and the fruit or flowers. Includes the scientific name for each tree and a cross reference to other states that have the same state tree. In those cases the information is not repeated, but additional information is provided. There is also an index, but it only contains the trees. Some photo would be a welcome addition to the book. KWR, UIUC MLIS, UIUC Certificate of Professional Development in Crop Science. (12-03)

Driscoll, Laura. Apples : and how they grow / Laura Driscoll ; illustrated by Tammy Smith. New York : Grosset & Dunlap, 2003. [All Aboard Science Reader] Level 1. ISBN: 0448432765 Grade: B

A really simple look at apples and the need to graph them to get true to kind apples. More of a story than a science book. KWR (03-04)

Gibbons, Gail. Tell me, tree : all about trees for kids / by Gail Gibbons. Boston : Little Brown & Co., c2002. ISBN: 0316309036 (Ages 5-9) Grade: A-/A

Solid intro to basic concepts regarding trees. I occasionally wished Gibbons would have chosen the more scientifically correct term than a common, but less specific word. Includes an identification guide for various trees and shows young naturalists how to make their own tree identification book (pressing leaves, leaf and bark rubbings, and drawings). KWR, UIUC MLIS, UIUC Certificate of Professional Development in Crop Science. (01-04)

Harwood, Penny. Eye View: Meat Eating Plants . Columbus, OH : Waterbird Books, 2003. 1-57768-565-2 (PreK-2 grade) [Eye view series] Grade: A

High interest topics are covered in the Eye View series and this one is no exception. The meat-eating plants covered are the pitcher plant, venus's flytrap, cobra lily, sun pitcher, albany pitcher, monkey cup, sundew, butterwort, and bladderwort. Did you know that monkeys have actually been seen using the monkey cup plant as a cup? The photographs are excellent, but it is a little disconcerting to see the book's cartoon child guide inside the traps of the meat eating plants. The colorful page templates are common throughout the Eye View series. Please see the index for other review of this series. KWR (04-04)

Huggins-Cooper, Lynn. Plants and flowers / Lynn Huggins-Cooper ; illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas and David Burroughs. North Mankato, Minn. : Smart Apple Media, 2004. 1583404473 (alk. paper) Ages 4-10. Grade: A.

Two fun and informative books in one. One part shows a young girl (Ruby) exploring nature and working in a garden while the other part explains concepts. For example, one page shows Ruby sniffing flowers, which makes her sneeze. Another section explains nectar, pollen, and pollination. It mentions that pollen causes allergies in some people and how pollen travels in the wind and via insects. The text also asks questions like, "Grass has feathery flowers. How do you think this helps spread pollen on the wind?" Some topics covered are plant parts, life cycle, seeds, and the food chain.The illustrations are very warm and friendly looking. There are several activities, an index, and a glossary. 08-05

Hunter, Rebecca. The facts about flowering plants / Rebecca Hunter. North Mankato, Minn. : Smart Apple Media, c2005. 1583404546. Ages 9-14. 02-05 Grade: A+

Very informative and fun to read introduction to the many kinds of flowering plants. The photographs and illustrations are excellent--much better than those in many children's science books. Some topics covered are plant parts, (simple explanation of) photosynthesis, pollination, life cycle, and unusual flowers. The book design is colorful and key facts are noted in review type boxes. There are also "you can do it..." boxes. There are many resources listed for further study, an index, and a glossary. KWR

Kottke, Jan. From seed to pumpkin / by Jan Kottke. New York : Children's Press, 2000. 0516233092 (lib. bdg.). (Ages 4-8). Grade: B.

Very simple text describes how a pumpkin seed grows into a pumpkin. Mentions root and shoots, flowering, pollination, and maturity. The book design is simple and the photographs are good. There is a glossary, index, and lists for further study. KWR 01-06.

Lilly, Melinda. Make it grow / written by Melinda Lilly ; photos by Scott M. Thompson. Vero Beach, Fla. : Rourke Pub., c2004. 1589526376 Ages 4-8. 08-05 Grade: B

Perfectly acceptable book if you are looking for a fun intro to how plants grow. Shows kids making plant "aliens" with living grass for hair. Gives very basic info about plants needs to grow and photosynthesis. The book is colorful and photos where taken just for MAKE IT GROW. There is a nice illustration showing the root, leaves, and stem. There are a couple of activities, a glossary, an index, and a few questions to think about at the end of the book. KWR

McEvoy, Paul. Flowers / by Paul McEvoy. Philadelphia : Chelsea Clubhouse Books, 2004. 0791072908 Ages 6-12. Grade: A

A well written, info packed introduction to flowers. Nice detail about the plant life cycle. For example, "a circle of stamens grows around the stigma. Each stamen holds a pollen sac called an anther." The photos are clear and labeled and the book design is very colorful. There is one activity (food color/water/carnations). One page shows examples of flowering and non-flowering plants. There is a glossary and index. KWR 08-05

Morgan, Sally. Flowers, trees, and fruits / Sally Morgan. New York : Kingfisher, 1996. ISBN: 075345033X (Hardcover) (12-03) Grade: A+

Very well written explanations cover such topics as roots, reproduction, seedling development. What it lacks in depth on some subject is makes up for in variety of topics cover. The "Inside the Plant" section is detailed including diagrams of leaf cells and a discussion of stoma, xylem, and phloem. The only negative comment I could make is that the explanation of photosynthesis is not very detailed compared to other topics. I was impressed with the inclusion of the comment in the beginning of the book that warns would be young botanist not to collect wild plans even if there are lots of them. KWR, UIUC MLIS, UIUC Certificate of Professional Development in Crop Science. (12-03)

Orme, Helen. Why do plants grow in spring? / by Helen Orme. Milwaukee, WI : Gareth Stevens Pub., 2004. [What? Where? Why?] 0836837908 Ages 4-8. Grade A-

A very bright and inviting book that discusses the plant life cycle throughout the year. Questions such as "What happens to plants in the summer?" and "Why are flowers important" are posed at the top of the pages. The text and photos wind around the page and there is a path reminiscent of a board game to follow. The photos are very clear and colorful, unfortunately, those with people look stock. However, children likely will not be bothered by them. There are quiz type questions throughout and there is an index. KWR 8-04

Oliver, Clare. Life in a flowerbed / Clare Oliver. Austin, TX : Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 2002. [Microhabitats Series] 073984329X (Ages 6-10) Grade: A

Starts with a description of the habit of typical flower gardens. General introduction to flowers including such topics as sun needs, life cycles, size, etc. Shows how seeds grow and discuses pollination. Briefly mentions soil. Touches on a quite a number of animal, insect, and various life forms that inhabit gardens. Illustrations are clearly labeled and include a good mix of photos and drawings. Book design is colorful and page layout varies nicely. Includes a glossary, reading list, and extensive index. Karen Woodworth-Roman 7-23-04

Riley, Peter. Plants / written by Peter Riley. Milwaukee, Wis. : Gareth Stevens Pub., 2004. ISBN: 0836837185 [Everyday science series] (Ages 4-8) Grade: A-

Plants is a good, simple introduction to plants and plant growth. For example, the parts of a plant listed are flowers, leaves, stems, and roots. Also covered are plants need for water and light. The font is large and the text is mostly broken up into short lines. The children shown in the photograph represent a variety of races. The page layout is colorful and inviting. Plants includes a simple glossary, bibliography and index. [See index for other titles in this series by Peter Riley. ] KWR, UIUC MLIS, UIUC Certificate of Professional Development in Crop Science. (01-04)

Robbins, Ken. Seeds / text and pictures by Ken Robbins. New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, c2005. Ages 4-8. 03-05. Grade: A-

A gorgeous picture book that provides some very basic info about plants and seeds. Written in a conversational manner. For example, "When you eat a sandwich, consider this: The bread is not much more than the seeds of a grass called wheat, ground up into flour and mixed with some water and a little bit of yeast." The book layout and design are varied and photographs are bright and clear. This is an interest building book that may lead to more in depth study. KWR

Scholastic's the magic school bus gets planted : a book about photosynthesis. New York : Scholastic, c1997. 0590922467 Ages 8-12. Grade: A

Busy, colorful illustrations and dialog tells a story about photosynthesis. Mentions that plants get water from soil, air via holes in the leaves, and energy from the sun to make a kind of sugar. Explains that leaves are green because of the chloroplasts. A more detailed note at the end explains that the plants make carbohydrates from water, carbon dioxide gas, and sunlight. It mentions the holes in the leaves are called stomata and that water flows through xylem and sugars thru the phloem. (10-04)

Silverstein, Alvin. Photosynthesis / Alvin Silverstein, Virginia Silverstein, Laura Silverstein Nunn. Brookfield, Conn. : Twenty-First Century Books, c1998. 0761330003 [Science Concepts] Ages 10+. Grade: A

Very readable introduction to photosynthesis. Includes some great facts like a single maple tree can produce 2 tons of food (sugar) in one sunny day. Could use some illustrations (e.g. cell anatomy and xylem and phloem). Includes a glossary, additional resource list, and index. (11-04)

Snedden, Robert. Plants & fungi : multicelled life / Robert Snedden. Chicago, Ill. : Heinemann Library, 2003. ISBN: 1588106756. [Cells and Life Series] Grade: A+

Wow. This book would have come in handy when I took Crop Growth and Development. Topics include: plant cells, tissues, woody stems, photosynthesis, roots, sexual reproduction, and fungi. Easy to understand explanation does not patronize young readers. The illustration and photograph quality and details are fabulous. For example one small illustration of an "enlarged root tip" shows the cortex, vascular tissue, epidermis, root hairs, area of meristem, and the root cap. I found it an enjoyable and fascinating read. Includes discussion of the plant kingdom, an extensive glossary, 4 item bibliography, and detailed index. (Ages 10+). KWR, UIUC MLIS, UIUC Certificate of Professional Development in Crop Science. (01-04)

Snedden, Robert. The world of the cell : life on a small scale / Robert Snedden. Chicago, Ill. : Heinemann Library, 2003. ISBN: 1588106764. [Cells and Life Series] Ages 10+. Grade: A+.

Introduces cells, eukaryotes, protistans, viruses and bacteria. There are also discussions called "Under the Microscope" and "First Cells." The photographs are extraordinary and there are many labeled illustrations. The writing is very clear and concise. There is a summery called "The Chemistry of Life," an extensive glossary, bibliography, and index. (02-06)

Barrie. Pumpkin / Barrie Watts. Mankato, Minn. : Smart Apple Media, c2003. ISBN: 1583401997 (alk. paper) [Watch it grow] Ages 4-12. Grade: A.

Up close and detailed look at the growth of a pumpkin from seed germination to its use after harvest. The text is clearly written and well researched. Beyond the obvious, concepts such as seed leaves, root hairs, and what happens to a flower that isn't pollinated are included. Excellent photographs and a labeled illustration. The photographs could be improved with captions. There is a glossary, index, and one page photo recap of the pumpkin life cycle. 02-06

©2003-2006. Children's Science Book Review, Karen Woodworth-Roman. All rights reserved. Copyright belongs to the individual reviewers. Last modified on 1 April 2006. Contact: E-mail Karen with comments, corrections, and reviews. About