Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In a coffee-table-ready companion to Animalium and Historium, readers make their way through seven -galleries- devoted to -the first plants,- trees, herbaceous plants, and other categories of flora, which are further subdivided; a spread devoted to -belowground edible plants- features cutaway images of a winged yam, beet, carrot, and other roots, assembled as if ready for a recipe. Scott-s exquisitely detailed illustrations call to mind antique botanical prints, and Willis, director of science at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, identifies each plant and provides vivid descriptions: -Orchids are the actors of the plant world, and the weird and varied shapes of the flowers reflect many highly specialized pollination systems.- Visually stunning, it-s an engrossing overview of Earth-s remarkable and diverse plant life that provides opportunities for ongoing discovery on every page. Ages 8-12. (Mar.)

Starred Review ALA Booklist (Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2017)

Starred Review This third large-format (almost 15 inches tall!) volume in the Welcome to the Museum series, following the wildly enjoyable Animalium (2014) so illustrated by Scott d Historium (2015), illuminates the remarkable realm of plant life. Divided into seven galleries, including "First Plants," "Palms and Cyads," and "Adapting to Environments," pages alternate between pithy introductory paragraphs and informational "keys" to significant specimens on the left, and exquisite renderings of discussed specimens on the right. Willis, director of science at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England, is at once technical, outlining pollination and physical adaptation processes, and playful, infusing text with fast yet fascinating facts. The designation "Pixie-cup lichen," for example, stems from European folklore: the lichen's stalked appearance offers pixies a vessel from which to "sip morning dew." Tropical trees, on the other hand, unlike their temperate counterparts, don't display growth rings. And the seemingly innocuous tulip? It's responsible for the "world's first financial crash." Elegantly encapsulating these dizzyingly diverse and ubiquitous wonders, Scott's photographic illustrations, too, offer astronomical appeal. Complete with an index and sources for suggested reading, this dazzling display is ideal for classroom and coffee-table collections, budding botanists and curious kids, and everywhere d everyone between.

School Library Journal (Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2017)

Gr 5 Up- beautifully constructed compendium of plant life from around the world that offers up a visual and informational treat for future botanists and casual browsers alike. Part of the series that includes Historium and Animalium, this volume is formatted to resemble a trip to the botanical gardens. Each section provides a broad overview of the types of plants featured in the gallery, accompanied by lush, gorgeous pen-and-ink drawings that have been colored digitally. Illustrated plates highlight a number of different kinds of plants with further details, such as location, size, etc. The language is thorough yet accessible, making this a great choice for upper elementary and middle school libraries. The pages are thick and creamy; the drawings are detailed and colorful yet subdued. The whole package is a pleasure for the senses, and each turn of the page opens up a wonderful new world of plants. The title harkens back to a time of collectible books in which one would find pressed flowers between the pages. The pages depicting carnivorous plants and the Christmas star orchid are among the highlights. VERDICT The large format, sumptuous artwork, and thoughtful writing put this one a cut above the rest and make this a must-have for any library that can house it.Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

Kirkus Reviews

A large-format tour of the plant world, organized into seven "galleries" of related types. As in companion volume Animalium by Jenny Broom and also illustrated by Scott (2014), the digitally colored images are not drawn to scale but are rendered with as much attention to visual impact as to exact, formal anatomical detail. From one to a dozen or so exquisite examples—most of which, at least for larger species, are isolated fruits, flowers, leaves, or other parts rather than clinically complete specimens—are artistically arranged on each recto, with brief but specific descriptive and environmental notes on the facing page. Aside from the opening gallery of algae, ferns, and other "First Plants," the sections are presented in no obvious order and range in scope from "Trees" and "Herbaceous Plants" to "Orchids and Bromeliads." Some sections include spreads on select environments, such as rain forests, and a final catch-up gallery introduces parasitic and carnivorous plants along with a handful of adaptations to particular environmental niches. Willis' commentary is sometimes technical enough to make a glossary helpful, but there isn't one. Not encyclopedic but reasonably systematic: a big, decorative, eye-filling survey. (index, websites) (Nonfiction. 9-12)

Horn Book (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Grouping plants according to where they appear on the evolutionary tree of plant life, this worthy companion to Animalium identifies common traits of groups such as grasses, orchids, and aquatic plants. Science-based text offers Latin names and details of pictured specimens' heights, characteristics, and habitats; rich, digitally colored pen-and-ink illustrations give this beautifully designed, oversize book an authentic field-journal feel. Websites. Ind.