Botanicum (Welcome to the Museum)

In a coffee-table-ready companion to Animalium and Historium, readers make their way through seven "galleries" devoted to "the first plants," trees, herbaceous plants, and other categories of flora, which are further subdivided; a spread devoted to "belowground edible plants" features cutaway images of a winged yam, beet, carrot, and other roots, assembled as if ready for a recipe. Scott's exquisitely detailed illustrations call to mind antique botanical prints, and Willis, director of science at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, identifies each plant and provides vivid descriptions: "Orchids are the actors of the plant world, and the weird and varied shapes of the flowers reflect many highly specialized pollination systems." Visually stunning, it's an engrossing overview of Earth's remarkable and diverse plant life that provides opportunities for ongoing discovery on every page. Ages 8-12. (Mar.)

Gr 5 Up--A beautifully constructed compendium of plant life from around the world that offers up a visual and informational treat for future botanists and casual browsers alike. Part of the series that includes Historium and Animalium, this volume is formatted to resemble a trip to the botanical gardens. Each section provides a broad overview of the types of plants featured in the gallery, accompanied by lush, gorgeous pen-and-ink drawings that have been colored digitally. Illustrated plates highlight a number of different kinds of plants with further details, such as location, size, etc. The language is thorough yet accessible, making this a great choice for upper elementary and middle school libraries. The pages are thick and creamy; the drawings are detailed and colorful yet subdued. The whole package is a pleasure for the senses, and each turn of the page opens up a wonderful new world of plants. The title harkens back to a time of collectible books in which one would find pressed flowers between the pages. The pages depicting carnivorous plants and the Christmas star orchid are among the highlights. VERDICT The large format, sumptuous artwork, and thoughtful writing put this one a cut above the rest and make this a must-have for any library that can house it.--Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA