Plant Attack!: The Fascinating Ways Flora Defends Itself

by Erin Silver, Julie McLaughlin (illustrator)

Just like people and animals, plants need to defend themselves.


They can't scream or run away from danger, but many have developed surprisingly cool and courageous ways to keep themselves safe from pesky bugs, hungry animals and even large-clawed crabs. Plants can stab, poison, drown and even suffocate their predators. Discover the corpse flower, which smells like a combination of rotting wounds, garlic, cheese and sour sweat. Then there is the touch-me-not balsam that explodes, flinging anything that touches it through the air. Plant Attack! The Fascinating Ways Flora Defend Themselves explores 15 different plants and the unique, and sometimes bizarre, ways they defend themselves from predators, including us.







Praise for Erin


★"Enthralling...Empowers readers to understand their own human coping mechanisms, while colorful, detailed images soaked in softly muted earth tones build a base of strong general knowledge. The challenge for readers young and old will be to see who says 'ew' first! A thoroughly engaging, fact-filled book with audacious and memorable animal responses to predators. A must-have for every library."—School Library Journal, starred review for Mighty Scared

Genres: Childrens, Nonfiction

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 11, 2025

Reviews

[Rachael Fryman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This colorful and fun nonfiction picture book explores several plants that have interesting defenses. Did you know that roses are the oldest known flower? Or that orchids live well in your bathroom? Or that Bladderworts are the fastest carnivorous plant! Or that Pitcher plants have developed a deadly slip’n’slide defense?

Each flower is accompanied by a wonderful full spread illustration, the name of the plant and its defense (great for reading to the littles), as well as a get to know me section and fierce fact (great for additional information for older elementary readers). It concludes with a human to plant connection and a glossary. As an adult I enjoyed reading and learning about these plants, so this is a great title for all ages!

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vibrant illustrations accompany a row of various plants, who do their best to protect themselves in, sometimes, very surprising ways.

This books is well set for readers from around the 2nd to 5th grade and presents plant after plant like a mini-parade. A very colorful one, too. Each two-page spread presents a plant, whose name is given at the top along with it's fighting 'superpower'. After a quick introduction to the problem plants face (insects and more), one plant after the other hits the spotlight. This includes everything from the notorious Venus Flytrap to lesser known powers like that of the orchid. A short summary of a paragraph or two gives quick details and insights into the plant. Then, the plant is given one or two paragraphs to speak for itself—which was a fun way to connect with the reader. Lastly, there are a couple number facts surrounding growth and such offered in a small bubble.

While there are some numbers involved, this book concentrates more on the attributes plants have and use to defend themselves or help their further production. Most won't be a surprise to plant-knowers, but others are lesser known. Each is interesting, and more importantly, brough across in an easy-to-read manner, which works nicely for the intended age group.

It's bright, bold, and awakens awareness for plants, their struggles, and their interesting defenses. I received a DRC and found it fun and interesting.

[Stephanie Gibeault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curious kids who love cool facts will adore this book about plant defense mechanisms. It’s great for nature lovers too. Each spread of the book introduces a different plant and the amazing ways it protects itself from dangers such as chomping insects. The corpse plant spread is sure to be a favourite with the description of its disgusting smell. Each plant also has Fierce Facts section and a fun Get to Know Me sidebar written in the voice of the plant. The bright illustrations bring the plants to life in a realistic way. A fabulous book to introduce botany and other STEM concepts to young readers.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the description of the way the flora defends itself but could have done without the little additional rhyme.

Presented on an about two-page spread there were visuals of the plant and the surrounding environment then gives a few random factoids (always appreciate those) and context about the plant. There were some eye-popping facts and this is a perfect children's book for those that like collecting them (and who want to own a carnivorous plant or go find a corpse flower to visit during bloom.

[Joey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A colorful and fun nonfiction book about how plants protect themselves.

The different fonts can feel a bit busy.

Each spread contains the name of the plant, with a two-word sub-title for the way of protection, followed with a paragraph on how the protection works. The other page of the spread features a “get to know me” section written from the plant’s perspective, and one or two “fierce facts” sections.

Good mentor text for alliteration, perspective, voice, and organization.

Texts are on the longer side. Perhaps for grade 3 and up.

#Canadian authors

[J. Blondie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can you imagine a plant screaming in the face of danger?!? So, how do they protect themselves? Read this book to find out! It’s full of fun illustrations and facts. There are helpful sidebars to give us the “Fierce Facts” and to “Get to know Me”, where the plants speak for themselves. Very clever and very fun! Great for curious kids and a wonderful resource for teachers, my students love it!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inviting exploration of plant defense mechanisms! Kids will especially like learning about the Corpse flower, which gives off a disgusting smell that attracts the flies and beetles that pollinate it, and Touch-Me-Not balsams which have exploding pods. Unique "Get to Know me" side bars are written in the voice of each plant.

[Roz MacLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gorgeously illustrated book is all about plant self defence, with fascinating information presented alongside vibrantly characterized plants and insects. The author frames interesting facts both from the perspective of the plant with “get to know me” sections and “fierce facts.” The unexpected possibilities of the plant world excite and engage in their beautiful book.

[Jennifer Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect book for children who like odd facts and are happy to pore over a book. There’s delightfully weird factual information, alongside comedic first-person narrations, told from the plant’s perspective. The tone is light-hearted, and the humour will no doubt assist children in retaining the information they read.

[Alison McGauley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plant-lovers and curious kids alike will love this book! Learning plant defence facts from this book is so much fun with the colorful, humorous illustrations and all the highlighted “fierce facts”. This is a perfect book for classroom read-alouds. Kids will be engaged by the fascinating, surprising, and sometimes disgusting ways that plants defend themselves!

[Maria Antonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating NF Book about ... Plants!

Colorful pages bring us into the amazing world of plants. Each plant gets a short explanation, including what it is, plus a history. There are fun sidebars where the Plant talks to the reader. And I loved the "Fierce Facts" that give an interesting fact about each plant.

Kids will love this book!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

✅ superpowers and survival tactics of plants
✅ bold and engaging images with sidebars of amazing Fierce Facts
✅ high kid appeal (they'll LOVE the stinky scents!)
✅ information AND humour
✅ 🇨🇦 nonfiction picture book

[Mahtab Narsimhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative with vibrant illustrations make this an excellent addition to a school or home library. Smart sidebars as written by the plant described is very clever! Kids will love reading the facts and getting a little "fictional" twist on each plant.

[Analene · Rating 5 out of 5]

The artwork is so lively and colorful. You can learn a lot of fun facts about plants and their superpowers. You get to hear it from the plants directly, as they introduce themselves. Once kids learn about the Corpse Flower, I bet they will tell all their friends!

[Nancy Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

With bright, bold illustrations this fascinating book introduces young readers to the mechanisms plants have to protect themselves from predators. Interesting facts about several plants are included.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the ways a plant can protect itself from animals and birds and what scents it gives off to keep animals away. Types like barrel cactus, orchids, poison oak, roses, glow-in-the-dark mushrooms, Venus flytraps, passionflowers, coconuts, pitcher plants, and more. Non-fiction.

[Michael Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cool book filled with facts on how plants protect themselves.
If you have a fact finder with a penchant for the plant kingdom this one comes recommended.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating nonfiction book about ways that plants protect themselves. Fun sidebars take on the point of view of the plants in engaging ways. Perfect for budding gardeners and plant-lovers!

[Mary-Esther Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colourful and informative.

[Kirsten Pendreigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and colorful intro to different plant survival strategies!

[Nadia L. Hohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and engaging.

[PottWab Regional Library]

A

[Deborah Kerbel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and 'fierce' facts abound in this non-fiction picture book about plants and the ways they defend themselves from predators. Curious kids will love learning about all the weird and wonderful tidbits included in this book. I learned so much myself!

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Edelweiss/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.


As everyone should know by now, I am a big plant lover, love spending time in nature and in my garden. So when I saw this fun book of course I had to read it, I knew several ways of plants defending themselves, but was curious if there were any ways I didn’t know!

In this gorgeously illustrated book we meet several plants, 14 to be exact! From plants that you can find in your garden to plants in the deserts, there is a big variety of plants and each has their way of making sure they are safe. From the gorgeous Passion Flower (which grows abundantly in my garden) with spots on the leaves meant to look like butterfly eggs so butterflies won’t lay eggs on them to Cacti with spines! I loved that each of the plants had a different way of defending themselves. Though I am not to sure why the Hydrillas is in the book. I mean, it is not doing much defending, just fucking up the planet with how they grow and smother everything. I am sure there is a reason, but I am just confused. But the other plants I did like reading about. I didn’t know for instance that Bladderworts sucks up its victims in its bladder/extensions. WELP, rip those insects. One moment you are just chilling and the next SLURRRRPPP and you are gone.

I love the writing style of this one, not just giving an introduction to the plant, but also a POV from the plant itself which I thought was a fun addition.

As I said the book is gorgeously illustrated. I really love the illustrations and it is colourful and fun and the plants (and scenery) just pops~!

There is a lot to learn in this book and I would recommend it! Perfect for plant lovers and peeps curious on how nature defends itself against threats/how it eats yummy foods.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/