We Can Hear Without Ears - by Lisa Westberg Peters (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Plants have secret skills. They are water wizards, finding water in the driest landscapes. They are a community, sending underground messages--and even food and water!--to other plants. And yes, they can hear without ears.

Here's a wondrous picture book for children ages 4-8 that will shake up the way readers think about plants.

Hey, creatures of the world! The plants would like to set a few things straight in this entertaining account of the astonishing skills they possess. Readers will be familiar with some of these abilities, such as photosynthesis, but others are likely to amaze children and adults alike, such as the fact that trees can communicate with--and send food and water to--one another through their roots with the help of fungi that connect them!

Bursting with fun facts and plants with attitude, We Can Hear Without Ears is an energetic account of the invisible ways plants defend, nourish, strengthen themselves, and communicate with others. It will awe budding botanists, nature lovers, and even those who may think plants are boring. These plants are anything but boring; in fact, they're thrilling, and as they share their secrets, they are sure to transform the way you think about flora.

Review Quotes

★ "Without plants none of us would survive... Speaking on behalf of tulips and sunflowers, willows and pine trees, the carnivorous Venus flytrap, and more, a chatty, slightly sarcastic collective narrator argues that plants are crucial... An enchanting mix of whimsy and well-delivered facts, Peters' portrait of community and cooperation among plants offers a model for us 'nonplants' to consider if we, too, want a successful future, from being more attentive to our surroundings to using more renewable energy. Ridolfi's enticing mixed-media collages blend earthy, energetic botanical sketches with woodblock-style prints to depict a variety of landscapes showcasing plant power. A delightful, humorous journey that will have youngsters regarding flora with a newfound respect."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

About the Author

Lisa Westberg Peters is the author of 21 children's books including Our Family Tree, winner of the Minnesota Book Award, Push-Pull Morning: Dog-Powered Poems about Matter and Energy, and Earthshake: Poems from the Ground Up. She lives with her husband in St. Paul, Minnesota, and loves to spend time at their cabin in northwestern Wisconsin.

Danielle Ridolfi is a picture book illustrator, designer, visual culture scholar, and instructor in children's studies and illustration. She was the 2024 recipient of the Ezra Jack Keats/Kerlan Memorial Fellowship.