Friday, January 9, 2026

*Wake Up, Woods (2019)

*Wake Up, Woods by Michael Homoya and Shane Gibson (2019) has a copyright by the Indiana Native Plant Society. The beautiful illustration on the cover by Gillian Harris fooled me into thinking this was a story for very young children. This is actually a book for the budding botanist in elementary school. Each plant featured takes up a two-page spread that includes its common name, scientific name, a rhyme, and detailed descriptive text. The fine art pictures are essential in this kind of nonfiction. There’s a glossary, appendix, and several pages of additional information at the end of the book. This book belongs in every elementary school science room! 


*The Art Room (2002)

 * The Art Room by Susan Vande Griek (2002) is a poetic story rendered gorgeous by Pascal Mileli ’s illustrations. Just look at the breatht...