Recommended Ages 4 - 8 years
Many people associate blooming flowers with springtime and falling dead leaves in the autumn. But those who have strolled through the conservatory gardens in November know that some of the most beautiful blossoms are alive and well during these golden fall days. Let me introduce you to a book I just discovered, and hope that it inspires a walk to Central Park to appreciate all the new colors and life that thrives even still.
What’s Inside A Flower, by Rachel Ignotofsky is a gorgeous book with vivid illustrations matching the topic of science and nature. We learn about how a flower grows in an easy-to-grasp way and more in-depth than just planting a seed and watering it. With a closer look into the soil, we find minerals (calcium, sulfur, phosphorus, nitrogen) and learn that they make the soil rich and help the plant grow. The pages are full of diagrams with nuggets of information spread out. While flipping through the pages, it’s easy to turn reading into a game of eye spy. You can look for a few special illustrations like a Corpse Flower which is over 3 feet in diameter and over 6 feet tall, a monster ladybug eating aphids, and the cave nectar bat that is eating a tasty nectar snack.
There are several other activities you can pair with this book! Create your own diagram of a flower using the illustrations inside as your guide. Taste test different fruits and look for the seeds inside. Or my favorite, go on a scavenger hunt in Central Park to look for flowers and pollinators!
Amanda is a preschool teacher, mother and avid Central Park picnicker. She values community and is an advocate for families in the foster care system. One day she hopes to publish a children's book of her own. In the meantime, you can follow her Instagram, Enchanted Literacy, which encourages imagination and passion for reading.
