Amazing Plants of the World
by Štěpánka Sekaninová
The mysterious botanist, Dr. Carnation, gives us a tour of his secluded gardens, where weird and wild plants are growing. We see carnivorous plants and stinky flowers. There are strange shapes in the blossoms and fungi. We learn about orchids that look like flies or babies or dancing girls.
Unfortunately there is also a “naked man orchid” with a little appendage hanging down. I found that in poor taste for a children’s book. Even if it is a flower common to the Mediterranean, that doesn’t mean it should be included in a children’s picture book. The text says, “Luckily they are unashamed of their nakedness. Quite the opposite.” I guess it’s supposed to be cute or funny, but I found it to be very inappropriate.
Other than that one flower, it was wonderfully interesting to learn about all the weird plants in the world! There are some really amazing plants in this book, and many times I thought to myself, “Oh my goodness! THAT can’t be real. That has to be fake.” Some of them look like they belong on an alien landscape! But no, they are all REAL plants on our own dear planet Earth. Fascinating!
The illustrations are brightly colored, and the art work does a good job of representing the actual look of the plant, but also bringing a fun cartoonish aspect to it as well.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Luminous Libro 