Flower Talk

December 21, 2018

PreS-K-A crotchety cactus explains how flowers use color, shape, and even smell to attract pollinators. Flowers aren't talking to humans; they're talking to animals, those animals that can help them make their seeds through pollination. The text covers only cross-pollination; self-pollination is mentioned in the back matter. The narrator reveals which pollinators are attracted to what: red colors for birds; blue, purple, and yellow for bees; a perfumed white for moths and bats; stinky brown for flies; and a nice steady platform in many colors for butterflies. Green flowers appear on plants pollinated by wind. And the cactus adds, "Blue and purple flowers are saying: 'Yo, bee! Could you help me move some of this pollen? And take some home for the kids!' " D'yans's watery paintings are especially appropriate for the subject, providing realistic variations in shading and revealing a gentle humor-the cactus drinks tea with a tea bag hanging rakishly from an ear; a bee has blossoms instead of stars in its eyes. For older readers, back matter explains pollination in more detail, with illustrations of pistils and stamens and developing seeds in the flower's ovary. A final note explains that some pollinators are endangered and suggests ways to help. There's also a short list of further reading. VERDICT Similar to Rita Gray's Flowers Are Calling, with a slightly more prickly appeal. Consider this a strong choice for most nonfiction shelves.-Kathleen Isaacs, Children's Literature Specialist, Pasadena, MD

January 15, 2019
Readers learn the relationship between the colors of flowers and pollination.With a googly-eyed cactus as her narrator, Levine explains why flowers need help with pollination from animals and why it's key to the survival of plants. Since most plants need pollen from other plants of their own species to fertilize their seeds, their colors "advertise" their plants' attraction to pollinating creatures. The text characterizes these adaptations as deception: "We trick them into carrying [pollen] for us. We're nice about it, though--we pay them a little something for their efforts." Intriguing facts surface: Red flowers appeal mainly to birds, since insects can't see red. White flowers, often scented, are luminous to nocturnal moths and bats. The stinky smells of brown flowers lure flies. Green flowers, being wind-pollinated, don't need to "talk" to animals. Using personification to convey science concepts to children is endemic--and the snarky narration will find fans. Two spreads on flowers that attract bees depict only bumblebees and honeybees, missing an opportunity to give readers a sense of the many families of bees. A labeled flower diagram does not identify the anther--only the pollen that sits atop it. D'yans' digital-and-watercolor illustrations, while often lovely, emphasize vibrant color and aggregated species arrays, not scientific verisimilitude. The pictured plant and animal species go largely unidentified, leaving readers puzzling.A casual introduction to the topic, with resources for further study. (pollination facts and diagrams, protecting pollinators, bibliography) (Informational picture book. 6-10)

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February 15, 2019
Grades 1-4 HEY, YOU! PSST! DOWN HERE! THAT'S RIGHT?I'M A PLANT, AND I'M TALKING TO YOU! The brash narrator of this picture book is a small cactus with an attitude. Though prickly to the point of grouchiness, it's knowledgeable and entertaining, as well. It explains that, rooted in place, many plants need animals to carry pollen from one flower to another, enabling them to make seeds. To attract birds, bees, butterflies, and the like, they advertise using colors as signs. The cactus tells which colors, forms, and smells attract which animals, then tells listeners to take a hike while its bud opens into a yellow blossom. Based on the flower's color, attentive kids may be able to guess which animals it will attract. The digitally enhanced paintings feature vivid splashes of color. An appended page, precisely illustrated with cross-sectional views and labelled with botanical terms, details the process of pollination. A good companion volume for Rebecca Hirsch's Plants Can't Keep Still (2016), this cleverly written and informative picture book is a lively choice for reading aloud.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2019
Narrated by a sassy purple prickly pear cactus, this playful, informative book about pollination teaches budding botanists how to interpret plant colors (e.g., yellow flowers say: "Bees, bargain basement this way--free food!"). D'yans's watercolors--featuring flowers, insects, and wide-eyed birds--are overly busy but burst with colors and textures as each page imparts science facts. Pollination steps and tips for protecting pollinators are appended. Reading list.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)