Books for Plant-Loving Kids
Emily Ellis
Many of us first discovered our love of plants and animals between the pages of a book, the musings of an anthropomorphized critter or the detailed illustrations of a field of flowers opening our eyes to the wonders of the natural world.
OSGF founder Bunny Mellon was no different. She collected children’s books throughout her life, and credited their beautiful illustrations with inspiring her early passion for gardening, art, and literature (you can read her thoughts on children’s books in the introduction to An Oak Spring Sylva.) As a result, the Oak Spring Garden Library houses nearly 900 classic and contemporary books for children, many of them focused on plants and the environment.
If you and your kids find yourselves reading more due to current stay-at-home orders, check out our recommended book list below: these eight plant-centric classic titles from the Oak Spring Garden Library children’s book collection - some contemporary, and some dating back to the Victorian era - are easily found online, and many were favorites of Mrs. Mellon’s.
If you’d like to learn more about the Oak Spring Garden Library’s children’s book collection, please visit our Facebook page at noon on Friday, May 15th, when Head Librarian Tony Willis will give a virtual talk about the collection and read from two of Mrs. Mellon’s favorite titles (and feel free to watch with your little ones!)
Miss Rumphius (1985)
This National Book Award-winner tells the story of Alice Rumphius, a woman who had many globe-trotting adventures before setting out to beautify her own community by planting lupines. Author and illustrator Barbara Cooney was inspired by a real-life Maine resident Hilda Hamlin, who quietly scattered lupine seeds throughout the state’s Christmas Cove in the 1960s, and is responsible for the profusion of the blue flowers there today.
While Miss Rumphius’s desire to make the world beautiful with flowers is poignant one that all gardeners can empathize with, the book also can be used to raise discussions with your children about native and non-native plant species. Lupines aren’t native to Maine, and although they are now iconic to the state thanks to Hilda Hamlin’s efforts, they are considered a pest in some countries, where they can crowd out native woodland species.
Find Miss Rumphius online here.
The Truffle Hunter (1985)
Future chefs and mycologists will enjoy this tale of a French truffle-hunting pig, which contains equal helpings of mushrooms and romance. Mistreated sow Martine is sent into the forest by her cranky master to rout out truffles; when she is unable to find any, she is abandoned in the woods, where she meets a handsome wild boar who teaches her all about the elusive fungi. The sumptuous illustrations transport you right to the French countryside, and young readers will likely come away with increased respect for both pigs and mushrooms.
Written and illustrated by Anglo-Australian author Inga Moore, this book is a favorite of assistant librarians Kimberley Fisher and Nancy Collins. Find it online here.
A Little Girl to her Flowers: In Verse (1828)
The hand-colored edition at the Oak Spring Garden Library.
What aspiring young gardener hasn’t been tempted to sing or recite poetry to their flowers to encourage them to grow? Penned and illustrated by an anonymous author in 1828, this sweet book of flower poems is just as enjoyable today as it was over a century ago. The short, simple verses profile 17 different flowers, with basic information about when they grow in the season and how to identify them. The poems are easy for young children to read and recite, and a fun way to learn about different flower species. Project Gutenberg has several free downloadable versions of the book; you can also order a physical copy online.
Frederick (1967)
Head Librarian Tony Willis gave this book to Mrs. Mellon for her collection, which follows the story of a field mouse living in an old stone wall much like those at Oak Spring. Instead of storing food for the coming winter, free-spirited Frederick works on a different project in preparation for the upcoming winter, and uses poetry to help his community through the difficult colder months. While the book isn’t centered around plants and gardens, it does contain vibrant descriptions of seasonal plants.
Penned and illustrated by Italian artist Leo Lionni, the story not only offers a peek into the world of field mice, but highlights the therapeutic value of art in times of trouble – a message just as relevant today as it was over 50 years ago.
You can find Frederick online here. Adults or older children interested in art and science may also get a kick out of Parallel Botany (1978,) Lionni’s illustrated field guide to imaginary plants.
A Child’s Garden of Verses (1885)
Some older children’s books stand the test of time better than others, and Scottish poet Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic collection of poems is one of them. We especially like the poems in the “Garden Days” section, which has likely inspired generations of future gardeners with its childlike rumination on the development of bird eggs, the names of flower species, and the changing of the seasons. While older children may get bored with this book, younger children – particularly those that have expressed an interest in the world around them – will enjoy the simple, descriptive verse and the detailed plant and animal drawings. The edition illustrated by gardener and artist Tasha Tudor is particularly beautiful, and you and your little ones can have fun identifying the many flower species crowding the pages. Order a hard copy online here, or find a free ebook here.
The Oak Tree (1987)
This sweet book by Laura Jane Coats explores the day in a life of a large oak tree. Soft, detailed illustrations show how different animals and people use the tree as a food source and shelter from sun-up to sun-down, highlighting the variety of life that such a large tree supports. This book is a great way to introduce concepts of biodiversity to very young children– and is peaceful enough to read at bedtime. Find it online here.
Birds and Flowers: or, the child’s guide to gardening and bird-keeping (1868)
The serious young horticulturist in your life will get a kick out of this conversational guide to children’s gardening in the nineteenth century, which was penned by women’s rights activist Emily Faithfull, the publisher of the feminist, controversial English Woman’s Journal. Parents should be aware, however, that the projects laid out by Faithfull are far more involved than gardening activities designed for modern kids: while you may want to skip the bird-keeping section (many of the species listed are not kept as pets these days,) the book covers everything from transplanting shrubs, to starting a window garden, to creating an arbor in great detail.
Even if you don’t use the book as a comprehensive gardening guide, it provides an interesting peek into horticulture and childhood in the Victorian era. Find a free version online at the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
The Wind in the Willows (1908)
Although this classic adventure story is not focused on plants, The Wind in the Willows – a favorite of OSGF Head Librarian Tony Willis - has helped generations of children develop an interest in wildlife and the natural world. Written by Scottish author Kenneth Grahame, it follows the stories of Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger as they navigate life in England’s Thames Valley.
On a sobering note, many of the natural areas and animals featured in the book currently stand at risk due to climate change, habitat loss, and urbanization. You may want to follow-up your reading of The Wind in the Willows with this re-imagined animated version of the story, in which the characters deal with the environmental degradation of their home. Part of a 2019 campaign from The Wildlife Trusts and backed by renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough, the film isn’t a cheerful companion to the book, but it does highlight the devastating effects of habitat destruction and the importance of protecting the environment.
The Wind in the Willows is widely available online – you can find a free version here.
Special thanks to Head Librarian Tony Willis for his help with this blogpost!