Weeds Find a Way

After almost four years of blog posts, it can be challenging to come up with fresh topics, things that I haven't written about or showed you before. Which is why today's post is so very special, as it's a first for this blog, something I guarantee you haven't read about here before.

It's a review of a gardening book, of sorts. Although I've done several book reviews before, until today I have not reviewed a children's book. So I was excited to give this one a look...

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Before we get started, I should mention that I did not find this book -- it found me. Or more accurately, its publicist found me and sent me a copy of the book to review. Other than the free book, I was not compensated for this post.


Although I still have many of the children's books that I grew up with, it's been a few years since there have been any kids of appropriate age in my family for which I would buy books like this. But I still love this type of tome, as a really good children's book is a work of art. Much like a well-crafted poem, the words in these books are chosen with care as there are usually not too many of them with which the story must be told. Also, they have to sound good when being read aloud, right?

Weeds Find a Way was written by Cindy Jenson-Elliott, and it (not surprisingly) is about weeds, their seeds, and how they grow almost anywhere.

It's quite lyrical, and the text itself is artistically woven into the illustrations...

...which are amazing! Carolyn Fisher is the illustrator, and her artwork is wonderfully textural, colorful, imaginative, yet accurate -- you'll find images of plants that you will recognize on almost every page.

Insects too:

As you know, I love textures. This book has them everywhere!

Not having access to any children, I couldn't test this story out on its target audience, but it seems quite nice to me. The book doesn't end when the story does though, as there is a wonderful feature in the last few pages:

A reference guide to common weeds!

What a wonderful way to get a child interested in the plants around them, whether they have access to a garden or not.

Because weeds will find a way!

I do have one negative comment about the book: its cover. Although I love the cover image (see the first photo of this post), it's on a jacket. The cover when the jacket is removed (which it seems is likely to happen at some point with a children's book) is interesting, but strangely generic:

Although I wonder if this is because I got a review copy? Maybe it's common for children's books to have jackets these days? As I admitted, I haven't bought any in recent years so don't know.


In summary, Weeds Find a Way is a nice introduction to these common plants, with wonderful words that sound great when read aloud, captivating illustrations that will satisfy even the most eager eyes, and the bonus of an educational and interesting reference at the back. (It's listed as Ages 4-8)



My typical four book review questions don't really apply here, but I'll list them anyway:

Am I glad to have it on my bookshelf?  
Would I be disappointed if I misplaced it it?
Will I read it again?   I would if I had children of the right age to read to!
Would I give it as a gift?   Yes! In fact, I will be doing so very soon.

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