10 Plants That Shook The World

by Gillian Richardson, Vladyana Krykora (Illustrator), Kim Rosen (Illustrator)

Dig up the amazing stories of the plants that have transformed our lives. Plants might start out as leafy things growing in the earth, but they can come into our lives in unexpected ways. And believe it or not, some have even played an exciting role in history. Discover how: • Countries went to war over pepper • A grass called papyrus made it possible to share knowledge through writing • Cotton improved the livelihoods of a few, but caused unthinkable suffering for many more The ten plants in this book are the source of profound changes in the world, both good and bad. Through vibrant illustrations and astonishing facts, you’ll discover that without them, our lives today would be vastly different.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Plants, Childrens, Middle Grade

132 pages, Paperback

First published January 22, 2013

About the author

Gillian Richardson became a world traveler at three months of age when she emigrated from England to Canada with her parents and older sister. After living briefly in Vancouver and Montreal, the family settled in southern Ontario.

Books can be best friends to shy kids, and they opened up the world of reading for Gillian. It turned out to be the perfect foundation for a future writer. Her favorite books were about animals, like the Thornton Burgess series of animal adventures. “One day, I found a cocoon and took it home. It hatched into hundreds of praying mantis babies. They were everywhere! That experience later inspired a picture book,” recalls Gillian.

Gillian graduated from McMaster University and St. Catharine’s Teachers’ College (Brock University). After a summer course for elementary school teacher-librarians, she found teaching positions in Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan.

As an adult, her interest in nature really bloomed. With so much to discover in the PEI countryside around her home, it was natural to begin writing. “I had worked as a teacher-librarian for almost eight years when I began to wonder if my own writing skills could match those of the children’s authors I encouraged my students to read,” says Gillian.

A move to the prairies in 1982 gave her the chance to try writing seriously, which she did while working until 1997 in school libraries in Regina. She has been teaching writing to adults as an instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature (Connecticut) since 2002. She is a co-founder of the Saskatchewan Children’s Writers Round Robin, a critique group that celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2009. During that time, she wrote sixteen books, and many short stories and articles for children’s magazines.

Since 1999, she has reviewed children’s books for CM, an online periodical. The review of an Annick Press book led to an invitation to write Kaboom!: Explosions of all Kinds (2009). “When I heard the topic would be explosions, I wondered how it might fit with my experiences of writing about nature. In fact, there were many links, from geysers to decomposition, from exploding seed pods to avalanche control.” Gillian had already developed a fascination with volcanoes after visiting two in Costa Rica, and Mount St. Helens in Washington to see the aftermath of an eruption first hand. Between drafts of Kaboom!, she peered into steam vents at Hawaii’s Kilauea. “Thinking back to university days when I opted to study languages (most useful for a wordsmith!), I wish science and environmental topics had also been on my list. But I’ve found that experiencing nature, and reading and writing about it, are great ways to learn, and to share. Write about what stirs your curiosity!”

Gillian joined the Regina Natural History Society to find out about local wildlife when she lived on the prairies. She now enjoys hikes and the annual Christmas Bird Count as an active member of the Shuswap Naturalist Club. She’s still traveling, too. From her home near Sorrento, B.C., she and her husband regularly explore the province and northwestern states in their RV.

Reviews

[Scottsdale Public Library]

This is a fascinating book about ten plants that have changed civilization. The book starts with papyrus and ends with corn and includes information about common plants, such as cotton, and lesser known plants, such as cinchona. Each section begins with basic facts about the plant, including its scientific name and what family of plants it’s in, how to grow it and the pros and cons of using it. It then expands into a history of the plant and its effects on the world with lots of interesting stories about the plant. Some sections also include information about peripheral industries, such as pottery making in the tea section, and child labor in the cotton section. Many parts inspired me to learn more history about the plant. The reading level is fairly advanced (7.8), but the illustrations and shortness of the sections make this book a fast read.
~Lynn H.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is closer to 3 stars but since we need a book on this subject so badly, I'm going to be merciful. Richardson takes 10 plants and shows what the impact was on people. Actually, in spite of what I was rather expecting, 4 of them are not food plants but plants that we make great use of in daily life. Unsurprisingly several of the other plants are actually spices (pepper), treats (cacao and sugarcane), or drinks (tea). Only two of them are foods we eat but what important ones they are! Corn and potatoes. If she had tossed in rice, she would have covered the staples of most of the world. This book relies heavily on format, using the exact same setup for each plant which distracts from great writing. However, it isn't poorly written. It held my interest throughout the book. And I learned some things I hadn't known before, such as what is the difference between green tea and black tea. Green tea isn't fermented and black is fermented. There is a third type, oolong, which is partially fermented. She also made it clear that herbal teas are not actually teas in terms of botany and explains what they are. She tosses in little factoids that to increase interest and makes her opinion very clear of some of the issues even today with the harvesting and/or production of these plants. This will be of use to librarians with that hard to please kid who needs a nonfiction book but doesn't want the usual shark, dinosaur or disaster type books. It might wake interest in botany or even history among those kids which will be only for the good. Oh and librarians: it is just a bit over 100 pages so will satisfy those requirements as well!

[Sarah Rider · Rating 4 out of 5]

simple and informative history. I liked it. It is a straightforward book, but I went through it pretty slowly.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great look at the science and history of plants that impacted the world in different ways. It is a fun read, but it's informative throughout, and it never shies away from the darker parts of the histories, such as slavery, child labour, colonialism, famine, and environmental impact.

I look forward to reading more similar books. I recommend this to anyone middle grade and up.

[Vidya Tiru · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Things First
I need to tell you this – each and every time I read it for the purpose of reviewing this book, I truly enjoyed it. Yes, I must have read this book at least four or five times, and I think – no, I know – that I will be reading this again as well, and will just have to add it to my physical library. Simply said, this book is amazing! It packs so much information in an amazingly accessible and fun format.

My Thoughts
The book takes the reader on a journey across the world, and through the ages, as Richardson presents informative overviews of 10 important plants that had a major impact on our world.

Every chapter – one for each plant – follows the same format. A drawing of the plant starts off the chapter along with fact boxes featuring data points about the plant (origins, pros and cons, growing habits, uses, and so on).



This is followed by an (fictional) anecdote around the plant and its impact on their life. For example, a little narrative involving someone named Will at the Boston Tea Party, or Kailyn visiting a chocolate factory just like her favorite character, Charlie from Roald Dahl’s book. And last but not the least, a detailed exploration of the plant: its history, uses, and so many more amazing facts.

I liked that the book includes the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of the story of each plant, while keeping it appropriate for the intended audience. It mentions child labor and slaves, wars and the havoc created over the growing and trade of many(almost all) of these plants. And on the other side, of course, it also includes the positive impacts these plants have had on history and civilization, and our everyday lives.

While the illustrations are “caricaturish” and seem different, they are well-suited for the narrative of the book.

This book can easily inspire readers to learn more about the plants, as well as about other everyday objects. Because if these familiar (except for one) plants have such a fascinating story, then what about other things that we are familiar with?!

In Summary
A really fascinating book with wonderful facts about the featured plants and a great read for all ages.

Check my blog - LadyInReadWrites - for more reviews
Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the digital ARC of the book; these are my honest opinions after reading the book.

[Sue Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great series and this title did not disappoint! We loved discovering the stories behind some of the most sought after or profitable plants in the world. From papyrus to corn and potatoes...these journeys were fascinating to explore. A wonderful read for the family.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating histories of a variety of plants that changed our world and have had a huge impact on our world as we know it.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with my 13 and 9 year olds. We enjoyed it, but sometimes the stories seemed to drop off in the middle. I would still give it 3.5 stars.

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

10 Plants that Shook the World by Gillian Richardson and Kim Rosen is an intriguing look at how a simple plants like pepper, sugar, tea, chocolate, cotton, corn, potatoes, papyrus, cinchona trees, and rubber changed the world as we know it. The changes were not all good, and even the worst changes held some good for people as well. Bright illustrations and fascinating information comes together to show us just how much a simple plant, leafy things growing in the ground with no way to communication, have absolutely changed the world.

10 Plants that Shook the World might change the way you look at the greenery in your back yard, and on the side of the road. Did you know that countries went to war over pepper trade routes, or that a grass called papyrus became the very first effective tool to share information with writing? perhaps you already knew that in the 1600's Europeans cut down rain forests to grow sugar or that cotton might have improved the lives of a few but caused suffering for many more because its role in soil erosion? While corn continues to fuel new technologies and can be found in thousands of products and rubber has revolutionized transportation. Then there are tea and chocolate as big business and related the race for profits while potato caused one of the greatest tragedies in history. Do not forget the fact that the bark of the cinchona tree has saved countless lives from malaria.
The ten plants in this book are the source of profound changes in the world, both good and bad. There are vibrant illustrations and astonishing facts about each of these plants and how people have been affected the world and our lives with the discoveries.

While 10 Plants that Shook the World might be geared toward children, I think that readers of all ages can learn something here. I liked the fact that a broad range of human experiences were included; the good, the bad, and the ugly, and the result is a picture that does not judge but offers a look at all sides. It is important for children and adults to remember that even the best moments of history are likely to have a negative aspect as well. There is valuable and interesting information here, and I think it will not only teach all readers something new, but it might inspire them to look a little deeper at the things in our everyday life as well.

[Nicole Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

(This review was written for www.riverarunsthroughit.com)
While the intended audience of this book is children, I have to say, even at my age, I learned a ton from reading it. I was captivated by the history behind each of the plants Gillian Richardson profiled in this book, they are:

Papyrus
Pepper
Tea
Sugarcane
Cotton
Cacao
Cinchona
Rubber
Potato
Corn

For each plant Richardson begins with a brief overview of where it originated, how old the plant is, and the plants "likes" and "dislikes." Then she gives us the story of the plant, which is, in essence, its history. To be honest you, if this was all that was in this book, my expectations would have been satisfied, but Richardson had grander plans.

For each plant there were additional embedded blurbs concerning individual anecdotes about the plant in our world. How each plant affected economies, environments, world explorations and warfare were all aspects discussed. Each section also featured a narrative describing a pivotal piece of the plant's history from the perspective of a person whose life was directly affected by it. I thought these stories were beautifully creative ways to bring even a small aspect of the history to life for the reader.

The color palette and art by Kim Rosen were seamless throughout the book and kid friendly. (Here's a post about Kim's work on the book!) Flipping through the pages of the book, you get the impression that it is informative and intriguing without being overwhelming. By the end of my read, I was shocked by how much information was packed in this unassuming book!

My Final Word

It is easy for us to forget how amazing something as simple as pepper or tea is. This book is a great reminder for adults and the beginning of that education for kids. The beautiful balance between straight expository (fact based) text, creative nonfiction, lists and artwork found in this book is rarely accomplished so well. Reading this book was a pleasure and I plan to read it again. I think this book is great read for kids interested in history or the environment, but can also be an excellent resource book for any reports that may be coming up during the school year.

[Aaron Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read for anyone looking to learn a little bit about different plants and the, sometimes significant, role they played throughout history. This text covers pretty wide range of plants, including sugarcane, pepper, tea, papyrus, and more!

Each chapter follows a pretty similar format. The chapter's start out with an informative page with a brief rundown and pros/cons of the plant. The chapters then continue with some historical information about the plant with some brief stories interjected as well. There are quick, fun facts about the plants scattered throughout the chapters as well.

Part of me wishes that there were some better illustrations or images of the plants, but I can't knock the book too hard for not having them. The amount of information here is incredible and I learned quite a bit of new information!

This isn't a book that your average fourth grader would be able to independently read, but a teacher could pick and choose sections that would be manageable. It's a 130 pages and I believe it would be more appropriate for a fifth grade reader.

Another great thing about this book is that it covers topics from world history as well as American history. The cotton chapter, for example, could be used during the teaching of the civil war as it has a lot of relevant information (Eli Whitney inventing the cotton gin and cotton's importance to the south's economy) and could help introduce concepts such as child labor to older students.

There's a lot of information packed into this little book and I really enjoyed reading through it.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's easy to overlook the significance of all the plant life around us. Sure, we eat plants every day...but do you think about the plants you might be wearing, walking on, or even using as medicine? 10 Plants that Shook the World introduces us to ten plants that helped bring about world changes. They were intensely valuable for their properties, be they spice, textiles, medicine, or food. Their value drove world exploration and colonization, trade routes, economic situations--even causing dramatic changes in population growth.

Can you guess the 10 plants which might have made the list for this book? Most of them are incredibly ordinary...so ordinary, you might forget you're eating or using a plant form. And Richardson does a great job at helping the reader to see all the facets behind each of the plants' histories she writes: the good, the bad, the ugly. She walks a careful line between fact and judging, and I think she does it well.

In addition to the history of each plant's discovery, cultivation, and impact on world events, she offers a short grouping of basic plant facts for each plant, maps to highlight where plants were discovered, a fictional account of how a given plant might be being used or cultivated or worked on by young people in various cultures, and a terrific bibliography and "further reading" list. The illustrations aren't particularly my style, but they aren't offensive and I think kids will appreciate them.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gillian Richardson has done a great deal of research and interviews in writing this amazing book. She clarifies what you might know and tells you what you don't know about the history of these plants. Though a grandmother, I learned more than I expected from this book that is geared mostly to school children, something I always look for in a book--something new. The illustrations are fun and will add to the pleasure for young readers.

I would not have guessed pepper was once worth as much as gold, nor that corn in its original form could have been around 80,000 years ago. Not only that but how important corn has been, not just for eating but in so many products and inventions in the past few centuries.

There is a lot of human history, not always happy, packed into this book along with the history of these ten plants. This is education at its best; fun, exciting and a pleasure to read. There is a Map of Plant Origins, Bibliography and other suggested reading. I heartily recommend it to anyone interested in learning about the way plants have changed the world, be it in food, industry or medicine. Who knows? Maybe a young reader will become an ethnobotanist!

[Georgene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book might sound a little boring, it was actually very interesting and packed with information. The 10 plants include papyrus, pepper, tea, sugar cane, cotton, cacao, cinchona, rubber, potato and corn. The author talks more about the history of each plant, where it originated, how it changed the way we live and how it affected world history. Interrelationships between countries and cultures and the reasons behind many pivotal events in history can all be traced to these plants. If readers can get beyond the odd cover and illustrations, they will find many fascinating stories that these plants have to tell.

[Mary-Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book identifies how papyrus, pepper, tea, sugarcane, cotton, cacao, cinchona, rubber, potato, and corn plants have changed the world through their influence on trade, exploration, empire expansion, wars, communication, and health. The book includes an interesting map that shows the original location of each plant. Highly readable.

[Marlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. I read it to my children, ages 8 and 11, who both really enjoyed it. However, it was full of new information for me as well, and I would have enjoyed it even if I hadn't been sharing it with my children. The wealth and variety of information supplied in this book is wonderful. It is presented in a simple way to be appealing to even very young children.

[Tanya Kyi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It's gorgeous, for one thing. But more importantly, it begins (in each chapter) with one tiny plant, then expands and expands until you see how that plant has affected... everything.

[Marissa Elera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is seriously quality non-fiction, with an original premise. I enjoy the illustrations and the detailed information about how each plant influenced history, from tea to cacao to the lesser known cinchona.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

10 plants that shook the world
by Gillian Richardson
this book tells the history uses and historical developments from the discovery, use of plants that changed the world. PAPYRUS,PEPPER,TEA,SUGARCANE,COTTON, CACAO, CINCHONA ,RUBBER, POTATO, and CORN

[Sarah Federspiel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book that serves as a scientific resource for students. It teaches them the value of plants that were useful in developing different things, such as paper and so on. This would be a cute read to keep on hand to use as a group lesson and/or discussion piece.

[Jason Eifling · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book written for its intended audience. I would have wished for a more in depth writing about the impact of the plants, but I did like the style of the writing and the different "features" per plant.

[Sunday Kofax · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty solid overview of each plant, each was convincingly world-changing. It was responsible in its nod to the overarching politics at the time, and my kiddo noted the commonality of slavery as a component of the rise of a world-changing plant.

[Whole And · Rating 4 out of 5]

An astounding source of information of 10 very important plants written with humour and delight, the historical information will wow you indeed. A remarkable collection of parts of the world's past and peak into the plants we thought we knew so well. Eye opening stuff.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed for professional publication.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and interesting!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great source of information about the origin of some of the vegetables we eat.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting info about plants we take for granted.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting facts.