Pretty Tricky: The Sneaky Ways Plants Survive

Pretty Tricky: The Sneaky Ways Plants Survive, by author Etta Kaner and illustrator Ashley Barron, provides younger readers with look at the different ways that plants survive.

The book is broken into three sections: defense, reproduction and food. Each section features about half a dozen plants with unusual adaptations for defense, reproduction or obtaining food. The plants and their adaptations are described in double-page spreads which gives lots of room for the fantastic illustrations.

The information is presented at a good level for younger readers. The youngest may not understand every word but will get the general idea of what each plant species does to survive. A few of the more difficult words are explained in the text, and there is a short glossary at the back that covers some terminology (photosynthesis, stigma, symbiosis). A longer glossary could be useful for the target age group, along with indicating which words in the text are defined in the glossary.

Illustrator Ashley Barron specializes in cut-paper collage which is an excellent technique for a book such as this one. The technique makes the plants appear quite three-dimensional on the page, and the colours attract readers and draw them to the text.

The information on each plant is short but of a good length for younger readers. For readers who want to know more, there is a list of selected sources at the end of the book. Also near the end, there is more information on how flowering plants make seeds and on how plants generally make food.

Pretty Tricky will give young readers some interesting information about the different strategies and adaptations plants have developed to help them survive, find food, reproduce and defend themselves. The book provides enough information to interest readers in the topic without overwhelming them, and the lively and colourful illustrations bring the plants to life.