10 Plants That Shook The World (World of Tens) - Softcover

Richardson, Gillian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1554514444 ISBN 13: 9781554514441

Publisher: Annick Press, 2013

Synopsis

Dig up the amazing stories of the plants that have transformed our lives. Plants might start out as leafy things growing in the earth, but they can come into our lives in unexpected ways. And believe it or not, some have even played an exciting role in history. Discover how: Countries went to war over pepper A grass called papyrus made it possible to share knowledge through writing Cotton improved the livelihoods of a few, but caused unthinkable suffering for many more The ten plants in this book are the source of profound changes in the world, both good and bad. Through vibrant illustrations and astonishing facts, you’ll discover that without them, our lives today would be vastly different.

About this title

About the Author

Gillian Richardson has written more than a dozen children's books, including Kaboom! Explosions of All Kinds. She lives near Sorrento, British Columbia.

Kim Rosen's illustrations have appeared in many magazines and newspapers, including The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post. She lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Review

Each of the chosen 10 has its own chapter in which the author adroitly weaves science with social studies in a format that always encourages readers to learn more. (J.B. Petty Booklist Online 2013-04-30)

This is education at its best; fun, exciting and a pleasure to read. (Betty Gelean Edwards Book Club 2013-05-27)

Readers who took these plants for granted before may well not do so anymore. (Kirkus Reviews 2013-02-27)

This would be a great addition to any middle school library or classroom as a stand-alone resource. (George Sheppard Canadian Teacher Magazine)

It's easy to overlook the significance of all the plant life around us. Sure, we eat plants every day...but do you think about the plants you might be wearing, walking on, or even using as medicine? 10 Plants that Shook the World introduces us to ten plants that helped bring about world changes... Richardson does a great job at helping the reader to see all the facets behind each of the plants' histories she writes: the good, the bad, the ugly. She walks a careful line between fact and judging, and I think she does it well... This is a great resource and interesting nonfiction. Recommended for upper elementary and middle grades. (LiterariTea 2013-03-27)

(starred review) With bold, lively caricatures from Rosen throughout, it's an intriguing and well-designed study of the ways plants have helped start wars, cure diseases, and advance technology. (Publishers Weekly 2013-03-18)

The beautiful balance between straight expository (fact based) text, creative nonfiction, lists and artwork found in this book is rarely accomplished so well. (Nicole Rivera riverrunsthroughit.com 2013-05-09)

Imaginative, full-color drawings appear on almost every page, and photographs amplify the text throughout. A double-page world map provides an overview of where these plants originated, and a two-page index links readers to details within each chapter. This title will be useful for reports and provide fun browsing and reading as well. (Frances E. Millhouser School Library Journal 2013-07-01)

Loaded with fascinating facts and stories about each plant. (Brenda Hoerle Waterloo Region Record 2013-04-06)

A treat to read no matter what age you are... Each section begins with a fact sheet on the plant and its place of origin, various "pros and cons" associated with the species (which might involve nutritional benefits versus environmental issues), followed by a one-page short story designed to pique the reader's interest. The bulk of the chapters then flesh out how the world has been affected by the spread of items, such as corn or rubber, which underpin modern civilization. Richardson is a fine writer and the text is accompanied by vibrant illustrations. There are useful maps, as well as a bibliography, a suggested further reading section and an index. (George Sheppard Canadian Teacher 2014-05-01)

About this edition

• Publisher: Annick Press
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1554514444
• ISBN 13: 9781554514441
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 132
• Illustrator: Krykora Vladyana, Rosen Kim