Plants in Disguise: Features of Creatures in Flowers and Foliage

Gr 1–5—Have you ever stopped to think about why some plants, such as cattails and elkhorns, are named after animals? Young nature enthusiasts will find answers in this charmingly illustrated title. The author presents information on 21 different plants named for their resemblance to various birds and mammals. Each is given a spread featuring watercolor illustrations of the plant as well as the animal it is named after. In each spread, the left page features an alliterative riddle encouraging children to guess the name of the plant, while the right page identifies the plant's common and Latin names and includes a succinct paragraph discussing the plant's structure and how it got its name. Adults recommending this selection should note that some entries discuss plants' edibility and medicinal uses, with some generalization ("Native Americans stuffed the fluff [from cattails] into pillows…and put it on cuts to help stop bleeding."). While some readers may lament the lack of photographs, the images achieve the goal of making each plant identifiable. However, the absence of an index and bibliography makes this volume more appropriate for leisure reading than for research. The nostalgic quality of the illustrations and the riddle on each page also make this an option for read-alouds.