Plants can't sit still

*Starred Review* In comparison to animals, plants seem rooted in one place, but that doesn't mean they're not in motion. Underground, their roots slither along, searching for water and sometimes sending up new shoots. Seedlings push through the soil, unfurl their leaves, and grow toward the sun. Some leaves shrink when they sense vibrations, while others snap shut to catch a fly. Seeds can be long-distance travelers, from small, light ones that whirl and glide through the air, to a large one that floats across oceans. With a doctorate in biology, Hirsch understands her subject, but equally important is her ability to communicate with well-chosen words that make the ideas fun and memorable for children. While some may be content with the main text alone, others will be fascinated by appended descriptions of a squirting cucumber shooting its seeds, or a raspberry seed riding through a bear's digestive system. Posada's impressive artwork, created with cut-paper collage and watercolors, illustrates the ideas clearly while creating varied, often lovely effects with colors and textures. Back matter fully supports the picture-book text with additional information on each of the plants featured, but not named, in the main section. A new way to see the plants around us.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2016 Booklist

K-Gr 3-Focusing on an aspect of plant life that not many consider, this title examines the ways in which plants move: sunflowers turning toward the sun, a snapping Venus flytrap, and seeds hitching a ride downriver. Hirsch uses simple verbs (e.g., wiggle, reach, unfold) to explore a characteristic or trait of plants (specifically their need to seek out "water, sunshine, and room to grow"), leading up to the refrain "plants can't sit still." Each verb is given a different color from the main text, adding the benefit of text awareness and vocabulary to the title. Illustrator Posada artfully uses cut-paper collage and watercolor to depict, for instance, roots searching underground for water, flowers growing upward on a trellis, winged seeds gliding in the air, and tulips closing up at night. Back matter identifies and provides further information on the flora found throughout. VERDICT The bright illustrations and the simple but moving text make this a solid addition to any collection looking to inspire interest in the natural world.-Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Fort Thomas, KY © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

*Starred Review* In comparison to animals, plants seem rooted in one place, but that doesn't mean they're not in motion. Underground, their roots slither along, searching for water and sometimes sending up new shoots. Seedlings push through the soil, unfurl their leaves, and grow toward the sun. Some leaves shrink when they sense vibrations, while others snap shut to catch a fly. Seeds can be long-distance travelers, from small, light ones that whirl and glide through the air, to a large one that floats across oceans. With a doctorate in biology, Hirsch understands her subject, but equally important is her ability to communicate with well-chosen words that make the ideas fun and memorable for children. While some may be content with the main text alone, others will be fascinated by appended descriptions of a squirting cucumber shooting its seeds, or a raspberry seed riding through a bear's digestive system. Posada's impressive artwork, created with cut-paper collage and watercolors, illustrates the ideas clearly while creating varied, often lovely effects with colors and textures. Back matter fully supports the picture-book text with additional information on each of the plants featured, but not named, in the main section. A new way to see the plants around us. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.

K-Gr 3—Focusing on an aspect of plant life that not many consider, this title examines the ways in which plants move: sunflowers turning toward the sun, a snapping Venus flytrap, and seeds hitching a ride downriver. Hirsch uses simple verbs (e.g., wiggle, reach, unfold) to explore a characteristic or trait of plants (specifically their need to seek out "water, sunshine, and room to grow"), leading up to the refrain "plants can't sit still." Each verb is given a different color from the main text, adding the benefit of text awareness and vocabulary to the title. Illustrator Posada artfully uses cut-paper collage and watercolor to depict, for instance, roots searching underground for water, flowers growing upward on a trellis, winged seeds gliding in the air, and tulips closing up at night. Back matter identifies and provides further information on the flora found throughout. VERDICT The bright illustrations and the simple but moving text make this a solid addition to any collection looking to inspire interest in the natural world.—Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Fort Thomas, KY