Botanicum

Gr 5 Up—A beautifully constructed compendium of plant life from around the world that offers up a visual and informational treat for future botanists and casual browsers alike. Part of the series that includes Historium and Animalium, this volume is formatted to resemble a trip to the botanical gardens. Each section provides a broad overview of the types of plants featured in the gallery, accompanied by lush, gorgeous pen-and-ink drawings that have been colored digitally. Illustrated plates highlight a number of different kinds of plants with further details, such as location, size, etc. The language is thorough yet accessible, making this a great choice for upper elementary and middle school libraries. The pages are thick and creamy; the drawings are detailed and colorful yet subdued. The whole package is a pleasure for the senses, and each turn of the page opens up a wonderful new world of plants. The title harkens back to a time of collectible books in which one would find pressed flowers between the pages. The pages depicting carnivorous plants and the Christmas star orchid are among the highlights.