Personal stories and a variety of engaging activities set apart this introduction to plants that grow on our coast. Herbalist Philippa Joly shares her knowledge of plants and ethical wildcrafting (the harvesting of plants for various purposes such as food, medicine, tools, and clothing) with a view to helping young people develop a connection with nature and a respectful appreciation of plants and the places they grow. Descriptive plant profiles, arranged by season, are illustrated by Joly’s simple watercolour renditions. Photographs also illustrate the text, highlighting children’s engagement in outdoor activities at her nature school. Included are sections on plant names and families, invasive and poisonous plants, safety, and advice for parents and educators, while games, recipes, quizzes, and crafts appear throughout.

Cautions / Content Warnings: Adult guidance is required for tool use and plant toxicity awareness.
Other End Matter: Glossary, Plant Book Quiz, Acknowledgements, About the Author
Images: Colour photographs, Colour illustrations
Bibliography: Yes
Index: Yes

Source: Books BC - BC Books for Schools

Philippa Joly is a clinical and community herbalist, paramedic and outdoor educator. She runs an outdoor school for kids and leads workshops on herbal medicine, plant identification, ethical wildcrafting, herbal first aid, local healing plants and anticolonial approaches to wellness. Her first book, A Kid’s Guide to Plants of the Pacific Northwest won a Silver Medal in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards (2023), and was long-listed for the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books (2024). Joly lives on Denman Island, BC, with her plant-savvy daughter, Breah.

Philippa Joly's profile page

• Long-listed, AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books
• Winner, Silver Medal in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards
• Short-listed, Science Writers and Communicators of Canada

“This is an absolutely delightful book, dedicated to helping children and youth build relationships with the plants in their world. It is a rich compendium of plant portraits and descriptions, personal stories, recipes, games and hands-on activities—like making tea from Yerba Buena or making a root-digging stick of Oceanspray. Philippa’s obvious love of kids, plants and the natural world shines through—and it is catching!”

Nancy Turner, Professor Emeritus, University of Victoria, and author of <i>Plants of Haida Gwaii</i> and <i>The Earth’s Blanket<i>

“Philippa Joly combines her love for plants, art, and connecting to the natural world in this wonderful book. It’s a perfect companion for any parent, educator or kid who wants to know more about the plants around them and learn in fun and meaningful ways. It offers useful ID tips, stunning and detailed watercolours of each plant and different ways of connecting to each one. It will also test your newly honed skills with the fun quizzes inside!”

Jenna Rudolph, Founder and Executive Director of the Soaring Eagle Nature School

“This should be on every home school, forest school and school district list for the southern coastal Douglas-fir regions, and every adult should read it too. We need plant literacy more than we have ever needed it in the history of the planet. Our survival relies on it. Ever since ‘plant blindness’ entered our vocabulary as a health condition, there has been an urgent need to bring back engaging, regional guides to plants for kids. Plant blindness prohibits a kid's ability to observe plants, form relationships, maintain their mental health and connect the health of plants to solving the crises of our times— climate change, colonialism and the decline in biodiversity. Plant literacy makes healthy communities.”

Briony Penn, author of <i>A Year on the Wild Side </i>