Plants Can't Sit Still

Excellent collaboration produced a winner: graceful, informative, and entertaining.

With a doctorate in biology, Hirsch understands her subject, but equally important is her ability to communicate with well-chosen words that make the ideas fun and memorable for children. . . . A new way to see the plants around us.

K-Gr 3--Focusing on an aspect of plant life that not many consider, this title examines the ways in which plants move: sunflowers turning toward the sun, a snapping Venus flytrap, and seeds hitching a ride downriver. Hirsch uses simple verbs (e.g., wiggle, reach, unfold) to explore a characteristic or trait of plants (specifically their need to seek out "water, sunshine, and room to grow"), leading up to the refrain "plants can't sit still." Each verb is given a different color from the main text, adding the benefit of text awareness and vocabulary to the title. Illustrator Posada artfully uses cut-paper collage and watercolor to depict, for instance, roots searching underground for water, flowers growing upward on a trellis, winged seeds gliding in the air, and tulips closing up at night. Back matter identifies and provides further information on the flora found throughout. VERDICT The bright illustrations and the simple but moving text make this a solid addition to any collection looking to inspire interest in the natural world.--Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Fort Thomas, KY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.