Hungry Plants (Step-into-Reading, Step 4) [Paperback]

Mary Batten (Author), Paul Mirocha (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 2004 | Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

This book offers readers a bug’s-eye view into the strange and fascinating world of carnivorous plants. From the “jaws” of the Venus flytrap to the pretty sundew plant whose delicate tentacles entrap its prey, the unique anatomy and behaviors of meat-eating plants are detailed with clear, engaging text and art.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This intriguing book in the Road to Reading series provides a sound introduction to one of children's favorite plants, the Venus flytrap, along with the sundew, pitcher plant, and the bladderwort--just a few of the 600 kinds of carnivorous plants that exist. The basic facts about the structure and behavior of these plants are presented, including the way they're designed and whether they're active or passive traps. The sundew, for example, has tentacles containing thousands of tiny sticky balls that glisten like dewdrops. An insect looking for a sip of nectar will get stuck and not be able to pull free. The harder it pulls the more glue the sundew makes. Then this passive trap becomes very active. The sticky tentacles slowly curl around the insect, squeezing it to death and digesting it with acids. In clear, concise language supported by detailed color illustrations, Batten and Mirocha have created an informative and fascinating first chapter book. Shelley Townsend-Hudson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

This book offers readers a bug?s-eye view into the strange and fascinating world of carnivorous plants. From the ?jaws? of the Venus flytrap to the pretty sundew plant whose delicate tentacles entrap its prey, the unique anatomy and behaviors of meat-eating plants are detailed with clear, engaging text and art.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers; 1st Random House ed edition (February 24, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375825339
• ISBN-13: 978-0375825330
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Bugs & Spiders > Nonfiction
  • #7 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Nature > Flowers & Plants
  • #46 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Bugs & Spiders

More About the Author

Mary Batten is an award-winning writer for television, film and publishing. Her many writing projects have taken her into tropical rainforests, astronomical observatories, scientific laboratories and medical research centers. She is the author of 15 nature/science books for adults and children, dozens of magazine articles and some 50 television scripts for Time-Life Films, National Geographic, Walt Disney Educational Media and others. She was nominated for an Emmy for her work on the Children's Television Workshop's 3-2-1 CONTACT series. Her books include Sexual Strategies: How Females Choose Their Mates, which The New York Times called "Fun and delightful to read, offering an abundance of fascinating facts." This book led to an appearance on OPRAH. Her children's book, Aliens from Earth: When Animals and Plants Invade Other Ecosystems, won the 2006 Izaak Walton League of America Conservation Book of the Year Award and was adopted by New York City Public Schools in support of the 4th grade science requirement for study of ecosystems. Her children's book, Baby Wolf, was selected by both Scholastic and Troll Book clubs. Her magazine articles have appeared in Cosmopolitan, Ladies' Home Journal, Modern Maturity and others. Her magazine article for Science Digest, "Sexual Choice: The Female's Newly Discovered Role," won The Newswomen's Club of New York's Front Page Award for best feature story. She is married to composer Ed Bland. They have two children: dancer/choreographer Stefanie Batten Bland and writer Robert Bland.

Website: http://www.marybatten.com
Blog: http://thinkaboutwriting.blogspot.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent first book on carnivorous plants, September 8, 2005

By 

S. D. Weitzenhoffer (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hungry Plants (Step into Reading) (Library Binding)

This is an excellent first book to fire up the interest of children in carnivorous plants. This is a hobby of mine, and I have an extensive collection, and am interested in conservation of their habitats.

The book talks about the major genera of carnivorous plants (although it completely skips Pinguicula, the butterworts). The full-color illustrations are beautiful and accurate. The information in the book is all factually accurate. It even briefly covers conservation.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting details on plants, August 7, 2003

By 

Y. Leventhal (Oak Hill, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hungry Plants (Road to Reading, Mile 4) (Mass Market Paperback)

I bought this book along with Plants Bite Back. We had already read our library copy of the Plants Bite Back and I actually was not sure I needed another book on carniverous plants. To my surprise, this little book offers other very important and interesting details on plants that are not in the other book (which is an excellent book also).

I am glad we got this book (e.g.it explained why we shouldn't keep touching the Venus Flytrap--it probably saved the plant's life from inquisitive little hands).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love the Hungry Plants!, January 9, 2007

By 

Sherah Vernon "Sherah" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hungry Plants (Step-into-Reading, Step 4) (Paperback)

My daughter loved every page of the book. It is a learning book and does so in a very interesting way. My daughter couldn't stop saying how good this book was. I would recommend it to anyone!