Publication Date: October 1, 2000 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up
Introduce children to the magic of using herbs for healing, cooking, and nature crafts and inspire a lifelong interest in the natural world.
• Designed especially for children ages five to ten.
• A hands-on book for children, filled with fun, easy-to-follow activities.
Walking the World in Wonder covers the medicinal and magical uses of sixty-seven common herbs. Each herb playfully introduces itself and talks about its habitat and many uses. With fun, easy-to-follow activities, herbalist Ellen Evert Hopman teaches children basic herbal skills and invites them to make a sunflower seed mosaic, sew a catnip-filled mouse, and dig for Jerusalem artichoke roots. The book also includes simple recipes that children can use, with adult supervision, to treat minor ailments--peppermint tea to soothe a troubled tummy or horse chestnut salve to heal a scraped knee. Children gain a sense of self-sufficiency and awe for the earth's treasures by eating wild nettle greens, sprinkling a sandwich with nasturtium flowers, making strawberry honey, and learning to season food with dill they've gathered themselves. Parents and teachers will appreciate how these earth-centered activities are placed within a broader social and environmental context. Sixty-seven full-color photographs enable children, parents, and teachers to identify these herbs during walks and field trips. Walking the World in Wonder gives children a direct and joyous experience of their connection to the natural world and inspires a lifelong interest in their own health and that of the planet.
"Walking the World in Wonder gives children descriptions of 67 common plants and herbs, all grouped by the season in which they appear. Useful for beginners of all ages. Older readers may also be interested in the book's introductory history lesson, "The Wheel of the Year," which tells of ancient herbal traditions." (Elizabeth Hockstad, Amherst Bulletin, Dec 2000 )
"If you've been looking for a way to introduce your child to the responsible medicinal use of herbs, this is the book for you. Children will enjoy seeking out, gathering and mounting the pretty but furtive plants featured in the book. In short, a book for the whole family." (www.beliefnet.com )
"Not only is this book beautiful, my kids love it! That is the whole point of the book, introducing children to herbs. Beginning with a few pages of information for parents, the book is laid out to make finding and gathering herbs fun! What a wonderful concept." (The Herb Network, Vol. 6, Issue 2, Spring 2001 )
"A delightful introduction to the world of herbs for children between the ages of five and ten." (Lori Collner, The Blessed Bee, Autumn 2001 )
". . . as an educator, a parent, and an herbalist, I heartily recommend this book for folks of all ages. . . . an excellent resource for any family interested in exploring the world of herbs, as it is informative, colorful, and child-friendly." (Elaine Reardon, Journal of the American Guild, Vol 6, No. 2, 2006 )
"Wow! What a great book for the up and coming herbalist on your gift list!" (PagaNet News, Volume VIII Issue VII )
" . . . a pleasant surprise. It never occurred to me that such a book would exist. . . . The back cover says the book is appropriate for children ages 5-10 years old. . . . I will readily admit that as a novice to the world of herbalism this book was at about the right speed for me, too." ( The Magical Buffet, Jan 2009 )
". . . beautifully illustrated with color drawings of the plants. . . . All sorts of plants are featured here. These include everything from club mosses and ferns to trees. The plants are arranged according to the season so that children can follow the natural cycle. At the beginning the author explains about the Wheel of the Year."
". . . beautifully illustrated with color drawings of the plants. . . . All sorts of plants are featured here. These include everything from club mosses and ferns to trees. The plants are arranged according to the season so that children can follow the natural cycle. At the beginning the author explains about the Wheel of the Year." (
Conie Krochmal, BellaOnline, June 2010
)
About the Author
Ellen Evert Hopman is a master herbalist and holds an M.Ed. in mental health counseling. She is the author of A Druid's Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year; Tree Medicine, Tree Magic; and co-author, with Lawrence Bond, of People of the Earth. Hopman resides in Massachusetts.
Ellen Evert Hopman is a Master Herbalist and lay Homeopath who holds an M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling.
Ellen Evert Hopman is the author of a growing number of books. Her newest offering is Scottish Herbs and Fairy Lore (Pendraig Publishing, 2011), a study of the folk magic and healing plants of the Highlands and islands of Scotland.
Her first novel, Priestess of the Forest: A Druid Journey (Llewellyn, February 2008), was an exciting new project for her, combining a heart-warming fictional romance with practical Druid rites and rituals. The sequel is called The Druid Isle (Llewellyn, April 2010). The third book in the series is Priestess of the Fire Temple: A Druid's Tale (Llewellyn) which will be released in March of 2012
Her newest book on tree medicine and tree lore is A Druid's Herbal for Sacred Tree Medicine (Inner Traditions - Bear and Company, June 2008) Other books include Being a Pagan: Druids, Wiccans, and Witches Today (Destiny Books, 2001), People of the Earth: The New Pagans Speak Out (Inner Traditions, 1995), Walking the World in Wonder - A Children's Herbal (Healing Arts Press, 2000), A Druid's Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year (Destiny Books, 1994) , and Tree Medicine -Tree Magic (Phoenix Publishing, Inc.,1992, currently out of print).
Hopman is a founding member of The Order of the White Oak (Ord Na Darach Gile, www.whiteoakdruids.org) and its former Co-Chief, a Bard of the Gorsedd of Caer Abiri, and a Druidess of the Druid Clan of Dana. She was Vice President of The Henge of Keltria, an international Druid Fellowship, for nine years. She has also been at times a member of The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids and of ADF, A Druid Fellowship. She is the co-creator of the Virtual Shrine of the Goddess Brighid (http://shrineofbrighid.com/)
Hopman has been a teacher of Herbalism since 1983 and of Druidism since 1990. She is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild. Hopman is a member of the Grey Council of Mages and Sages and has been a professor at the Grey School of Wizardry.
Hopman has presented on Druidism, herbal lore, tree lore, Paganism, and magic at conferences, festivals, and events in Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and the United States. She has participated in numerous radio and television programs including National Public Radio's "Vox Pop" and the Gary Null show in New York. She presented a weekly "herb report" for WRSI radio out of Greenfield, MA for over a year and was a featured subject in a documentary about Druids on A&E Television's "The Unexplained" (Sacred Societies, February 1999).
She has also released video tapes and DVDs on the subjects covered in her books through Sawmill River Productions. See clips at: http://vimeo.com/user2687064/videos Purchase the DVDs for $20.00 plus $4.00 from Ellen at POB 219, Amherst, MA 01004
She has been a teacher of Herbalism since 1983 and of Druidism since 1990 and co-leads tours to Celtic and Neolithic sites in Europe. She was the founder of The New England Druid Summit, a yearly gathering of Druids in New England.
She has participated in numerous radio and television programs including the Gary Null show in New York, and presented a weekly "herb report" for WRSI radio, out of Greenfield, MA for two years. She was a featured subject in a February, 1999 documentary on Druids on A&E Television's "The Unexplained". She has been on the staff of Keltria: Journal of Druidism and Celtic Magick and has been a contributing author to many New Age and Pagan journals.
Visit www.elleneverthopman.com to read Ellen's monthly blog.
Praise for Scottish Herbs and Fairy Lore;
Many of the herbal and magical practices of the Scots are echoed in traditional Norwegian folk medicine and magic. This is a valuable resource book not only for the serious folklorist, but also for a wider audience interested in a deeper look at rural Scottish practices. Ms. Hopman has done an amazing amount of research, and her Scottish herbalism section is far more detailed than I've seen elsewhere. A "must have" for the northern European folklorist's library. Jane T. Sibley, Ph.D., author of "The Hammer of the Smith" and "The Divine Thunderbolt: Missile of the Gods".
Through her books, Ellen Evert Hopman lifts the veil between worlds of the present and the past. She guides the reader on a fascinating journey to our ancient Celtic history, simultaneously restoring lost knowledge and entertaining the reader. Be prepared to be educated and delighted. Wendy Farley, Clan McKleod
"The first things is WOW! Ellen Hopman has given us a volume that belongs in Harry Potter's library. This wonderful collection of enchantments, faery lore and herbal potions, is presented by a practicing herbalist and (I suspect) magician. It is a useful manual of magic, an unusual tourist guide to Scotland, certainly a delightful read, and at the very least, a comprehensive and thoroughly footnoted collection of folk lore for humorless librarians and scholars." Matthew Wood MS (Scottish School of Herbal Medicine) Registered Herbalist (American Herbalists Guild)
Every now and again, a book emerges from the waves of occult and magical authorship that delves into the deep and ancestral waters of old magic! This book is one of those rare occasions. From the lore of herbs to the blessing of stones; from avioding the elf-blast to healing through Faerie blessing - Ellen guides the reader through ancient groves of oral lore to discover a power and spirit that connects the reader to the oldest of magics, the earth and her elements. I am confident that the Scottish Ancestral Wise Ones, are renewed through this book and the old ways live once again! Orion Foxwood
Ellen Evert Hopman takes us deep into a world where folk magic and herbal medicine are part and parcel of a daily life guided by the cycles of the sun and the moon and the land. She strikes a perfect balance, combining rigorous scholarship, deep understanding of the Scottish worldview, and clear and accessible writing with just the right measure of the mystical and poetic. At once a rich and detailed study of traditional Scottish ways and a practical manual for bringing healing and magic into your own life. A truly masterful work. Sean Donahue, Traditional Herbalist http://www.brighidswellherbs.com
Like a wee bairn sitting on grandma's lap absorbing legend, lore and instruction from the talk around the hearth, you will learn from and delight in this richly accomplished book. Take a sip or a long draught, you will be nourished deeply. Susn S. Weed author of the Wise Woman Herbal series.
Woven into this well-researched and beautifully presented book is a magical thread. This thread forms a path and this path winds its way into the very marrow of the old and forgotten ways of Scotland. Throughout these pages Ellen lavishes the reader with a body of knowledge that she means to be used in direct participation with Nature. The message is clear: The old Wisdom endures and is more vital to us than ever before. Michael Dunning - Scottish shaman, writer, artist and teacher.
A recent review of A Druids Herbal of Sacred Tree Medicine;
SageWoman BBI Media, Inc. www.witchesandpagans.com
REVIEW:
As a practicing herbalist, I am always on the lookout for books rich with herbal lore. The problem is that most books are either medicinal or magical, and when they're both, the information therein is not always especially helpful. Enter Ellen Evert Hopman, whose book, however, is a thorough and complete look at both. Hopman is not only an herbalist but a Druid priestess, as well and she obviously has a keen intuitive sense of tree medicine that she couples this with Druid lore (as well as Native American lore). Sacred Tree Medicine traces through the Druid Ogham Tree alphabet, giving the symbolic, liturgical, poetic, medicinal, and spiritual aspects of each sacred tree.
Though there is focus on herb lore, the Goddess is given plenty of attention, too. Hopman teaches her reader how each sacred tree assists in spiritual practice and which face of the Goddess it represents. I had the most fun taking this book to the forests by my home, identifying trees and sampling their offerings. The book closes with a section on the Druidic arts including magic, tools, festivals, and divinations. This gives the reader the opportunity to put her newfound knowledge of trees and magic to practical use.
Hopman is an incredible resource for all of us seeking to take our health, medicine, and spirituality into our own hands. Sacred Tree Medicine deserves a place on the shelf next to her other guides of magical and medicinal lore.
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 starsA Must Have Book!, June 9, 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Walking the World in Wonder: A Children's Herbal (Paperback)
This is definitely a must have book for any family who does herbal medicine- Pagan or not! I was so excited to see the Wheel of the Year described. Each description is in very easy to read language for the children, yet offers valuable information. Plainly put, the author trusts the children's intelligence, and doesn't dumb it down for them. Many simple recipes for remedies and treats are included in the descriptions, as well as lore. My only problem with this book is that there aren't more pictures of each plant in various stages. Some of the pictures offer only a flowering shot of the arial parts. Still, with a parent's help the children will have no problem seeing that they are indeed the plants from the book. The pictures offered are full page beautiful shots. So, it's not really much of a complaint- more of a suggestion in case there are any future editions. :) BUY THIS BOOK!
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This review is from: Walking the World in Wonder: A Children's Herbal (Paperback)
This book is a delight for children of ALL age! For those just exploring the magical world of nature to those young at heart. The beautiful photography and illustrations along with the wondrous style of writing is enchanting. This is a marvelous addition to any library, full of information from the practical and medicinal uses of herbs to a beautiful introduction to the wheel of the year and cycles of nature, with glimpses into ancient folklore of various cultures.
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This review is from: Walking the World in Wonder: A Children's Herbal (Paperback)
The author begins with some good information on practices of collecting, use and identification, and then proceeds with a nice introduction to the Wheel of the Year complete with the popular festival names (Samhain, Yule, etc.)
My kids (boys, ages 5 and 8) love the full-color illustrations of easy-to-find herbs. This is truly written to be used by a child (though adults will find it enchanting as well) which is exactly what I needed. I have plenty of my own adult versions of herbals and wanted something that my children could call their own and use on their own.
An interesting twist is the organization of the herbs. The herbs are grouped into four seasons, the season they would most commonly be found, and the chapters begin with Autumn, the start of the Wheel of the Year. Living in Florida, we are less likely to be finding that exactly useful; but we do enjoy seeing how they are usually found in the more northern areas of the nation and will enjoy that feature on our travels to visit family.
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