Overview

Take a rhythmic journey through riddles and rhymes to the secret world of the plants in your backyard. Your questions are finally answered by the keepers of their secrets. Readers learn both the good and the not-so-good secret powers of common weeds in this backyard adventure book. A fairy guardian will guide you to meet the plants in their magical world. You will meet the cute Dandelion as you rhyme your way through its edible uses or learn to be wary of Bittersweet Nightshade with its toxic berries. Tales of the Plant Guardians: Backyard Adventures will create a world of wonder in your own backyard while introducing botany to your children.

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9780578667157

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Reviews

Adam Kessel's Tales of the Plant Guardians: Backyard Adventures begins with the familiar opening of classic fairy tales, but after two pages it's clear that this book is more than that. Whimsical pen illustrations and lilting rhymes on these first two pages put you in the mood for a story, but read on, and you are introduced to a magical world full of fairies and the outdoor habitats they navigate-which happen to be places unknowing humans might tread at any time. Backyards, gardens, alleyways, city parks, country lanes-these are the places you will find the plants in Tales of the Plant Guardians. ...Alanna Crisci's illustrations beautifully serve Kessel's words, and the plant close-ups, expressive fairy faces, and wild creatures (butterflies, ladybugs, bumblebees, and caterpillars) have their own personality. It makes it much easier to remember the plants when there is something visually definitive to represent each one. I was also entertained by the inclusion of everyday items strewn about within the images: a set of keys, a fork, a marble, which provide scale for the plants and fairies and also serve to further draw you into the hidden, ground-level environment. Kessel's book is perfect for a read-aloud session with children, or as a take-along reference guide during walks and other outdoor excursions. The practical information within is entertaining and empowering for both children and adults. As an avid container gardener, this book made me long for a big backyard, but as the plant descriptions point out, city dwellers can experience these plants and enjoy their own outdoor adventures in public parks, alleys, and even by taking note of cracks in the sidewalk. The plant kingdom is vast, mysterious, and resilient, and has much to teach us if we are willing to learn and explore. -Susan Gaspar; Windy City Reviews

Author Information

Adam Kessel has taught urban ecology programs extensively throughout the Great Lakes Region. As a father he is always looking for ways to share the magic of nature in every outdoor experience with his children. His books offer an opportunity to find that magic of nature in places that one might overlook. He gained his passion and knowledge of plants through his many years of teaching and learning in the Native American Community of Chicago. As a community member he has helped to develop culturally based science curricula that revolved around traditional uses of plants by Tribes of the Great Lakes Region. He continues to work as an advocate for Native American rights in the Chicago-land area. Adam received his Master of Arts in Teaching from National-Louis University of Chicago. He holds a teaching certificate with the State of Illinois, an arborist certificate through the International Society of Arboriculture, and an Interpretive Guide certificate through National Association for Interpretation.

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