A Kid's Guide to Plants of the Great Lakes Region - by Philippa Joly (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A middle-grade-friendly introduction to flora of the Great Lakes Region--including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin-- with outdoor activities, games and quizzes that make learning about nature fun! Great for families and educators.

Get dirty digging up roots. Crouch down to look closely at a carnivorous sundew dissolving a dragonfly. Make an elderberry concoction. Test your plant ID skills with a winter twig quiz. Make a soothing plantain salve to treat an itch. Learn which berries you can eat and which to avoid.

Time spent outdoors encourages children's self-confidence and independence, increases attention span and physical well-being, and fosters care for the environment. With the increasing intrusion of technology into daily life, and the challenges of climate chaos, it has never been more essential for parents and educators to encourage kids to engage with the natural environment. Plants are everywhere, even in urban areas where parks, empty lots and backyards offer the opportunity to learn from and connect to nature.

Drawing on her years of experience as and outdoor educator, Philippa Joly features fifty richly illustrated plant profiles, including information on identification and ecology, cultural uses, and fun activities--all in a way that is accessible and interesting to readers of all ages.

Review Quotes

Praise for A Kid's Guide to Plants of the Pacific Northwest:

2023 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards Silver Medal
2024 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books Longlist
2023 Science Writers and Communicators of Canada Shortlist

"A new resource that not only will help get those kids out the door but may well turn them into budding botanists. . . . The writing is conversational and friendly while never backing away from the science. This is a beautifully designed and written book that will be loved by both young readers and their parents." --Seattle Book Review (5-star review)

"This is an absolutely delightful book, dedicated to helping children and youth build relationships with the plants in their world. It is a rich compendium of plant portraits and descriptions, personal stories, recipes, games and hands-on activities--like making tea from Yerba Buena or making a root-digging stick of Oceanspray. Philippa's obvious love of kids, plants and the natural world shines through--and it is catching!" --Nancy Turner, Professor Emeritus, University of Victoria, and author of Plants of Haida Gwaii and The Earth's Blanket

"This should be on every home school, forest school and school district list for the southern coastal Douglas-fir regions, and every adult should read it too. We need plant literacy more than we have ever needed it in the history of the planet. Our survival relies on it. Ever since 'plant blindness' entered our vocabulary as a health condition, there has been an urgent need to bring back engaging, regional guides to plants for kids. Plant blindness prohibits a kid's ability to observe plants, form relationships, maintain their mental health and connect the health of plants to solving the crises of our times--climate change, colonialism and the decline in biodiversity. Plant literacy makes healthy communities." --Briony Penn, author of A Year on the Wild Side

"Philippa Joly combines her love for plants, art, and connecting to the natural world in this wonderful book. It's a perfect companion for any parent, educator or kid who wants to know more about the plants around them and learn in fun and meaningful ways. It offers useful ID tips, stunning and detailed watercolours of each plant and different ways of connecting to each one. It will also test your newly honed skills with the fun quizzes inside!" --Jenna Rudolph, Founder and Executive Director of the Soaring Eagle Nature School