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9781554514458

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Loaded with fascinating facts and stories about each plant.--Brenda Hoerle Waterloo Region Record (04/06/2013)

Sugarcane, rubber, pepper, cacao, cotton, tea, papyrus, corn, potato, and cinchona have something in common: their influence on human culture. Gillian Richardson explores the history and value of these plants in 10 Plants That Shook the World. Facts, stories, and sidebars combine with photographs and folk art in this intriguing book for middle grade readers. (She) integrates the discovery, politics, science, economics, agriculture, and technology behind the featured plants. Each engaging chapter offers both pros (cinchona bark for the treatment of deadly malaria) and cons (the role of slavery and child labor in the growth of cotton). Reference to ancient times (using BCE terminology) and religious practice (such as the Mayans' worship of corn as a gift from the gods) are presented alongside modern concepts such as biorespecting, deforestation, and genetic modification. 10 Plants That Shook the World is a fascinating read on many levels; adults as well as students would surely find the information noteworthy and the back-stories compelling. Kim Rosen's bold illustrations have a dramatic quality. Each page is a colorful array of text and graphics that invite the reader to peruse and revisit. Plant origins are displayed on a two-page world map, and references for further reading are included along with a detailed index.--Nina Ditmar Christian Library Journal (06/05/2014)

Author Information

Gillian Richardson has written more than a dozen children's books, including ""Kaboom! Explosions of All Kinds."" She lives near Sorrento, British Columbia. Kim Rosen's illustrations have appeared in many magazines and newspapers, including ""The New Yorker,"" ""The Atlantic,"" and ""The Washington Post."" She lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.

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