What do you think?
Rate this book
Flower Talk: How Plants Use Color to Communicate
This new book from Sara Levine features a cantankerous talking cactus as a narrator, revealing to readers the significance of different colors of flowers in terms of which pollinators (bees, bats, birds, etc.) different colors "talk" to. A fun nonfiction presentation of science info that may be new to many kids--and adults!
32 pages, Hardcover
Published March 5, 2019
9 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
May 13, 2019
A fun and cheeky approach to learning all about pollination and the secret language of flowers. Beautiful illustrations and a little science lesson and further reading section at the back :)
November 2, 2018
3,5/5. Brief explanation of pollination all beautifully illustrated. I'm not sure this will reach a large public, but it's a decent enough introduction to the subject and easy enough to go in for young reader. Good!
September 19, 2019
Did you know "a flower's color invites specific animals to visit?" This fun nonfiction book shares with readers all the ways flowers use color to communicate with other animals. The information is presented in a humorous way. The narrator is a cactus who likes to crack jokes. The beautiful watercolor illustrations complement the text perfectly. A must-have for any classroom or library.
July 1, 2021
Library borrow; glad I didn’t buy it. The text (a mean looking prickly pear cactus) really talks down to children and even uses the phrase “What a lot of fertilizer” and other such unfunny attempts to be witty but which come across as sounding obnoxious. Two stars because we learned something about the reason for plant colours which previously didn’t know, but I would rather get that information from a living nature book such as those by Arabella Buckley.
April 1, 2020
A fun, humorous way to learn about Pollination.
October 19, 2020
Beautiful illustrations and interesting information. I loved learning about flower colors and what living things they attract so they can grow seeds.
November 21, 2019
The vibrant colors and the art in this book were amazing, and this book did a great job at giving young readers some insight into the process of pollination in a really accessible way. The narration was a bit snarkier than my personal preference, and as a result this book (for me) is a 3-star not 4 star. Would still rec it, especially for parents who want to start getting their kids into science!
May 13, 2019
Interesting
April 28, 2023
Interesting, informative, and entertaining. Will buy for personal collection.
March 5, 2019
Flower Talk, by Sara Levine, is a nonfiction picture book about the important symbiotic relationship between flowers and animals and it is told from the point of view of a very cute little cactus. As a former teacher, I was practically giddy while reading through this book because it speaks so perfectly to elementary aged kids. It is informative, witty, and full of beautiful watercolor illustrations, and I am sure that this book would keep an entire class fully engaged.
I learned something new from reading this book as well! I knew that flowers are often brightly colored and fragrant because this makes them attractive to bugs and birds, but what surprised me was that specific colors and smells attract certain animals. For example, flowers that are blue, purple, and yellow attract bees, whereas red flowers are primarily pollinated by birds, because bees cannot see the color red.
I give this book five stars because of its clear and engaging message, and because it would fit seamlessly into a series of lessons on living systems and symbiosis, as well as a unit about plant life cycles. I will certainly recommend this book to my friends who are teachers and librarians.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I learned something new from reading this book as well! I knew that flowers are often brightly colored and fragrant because this makes them attractive to bugs and birds, but what surprised me was that specific colors and smells attract certain animals. For example, flowers that are blue, purple, and yellow attract bees, whereas red flowers are primarily pollinated by birds, because bees cannot see the color red.
I give this book five stars because of its clear and engaging message, and because it would fit seamlessly into a series of lessons on living systems and symbiosis, as well as a unit about plant life cycles. I will certainly recommend this book to my friends who are teachers and librarians.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 16, 2019
"We sit here growing, minding our own business while you guys go on about how red roses stand for love and white ones are good for weddings and all kinds of mushy, ridiculous stuff. What a load of fertilizer!"
I learned something new from reading this book, that flowers are often brightly colored and fragrant because this makes them attractive to bugs and birds, but what surprised me was that specific colors and smells attract certain animals. For example, flowers that are blue, purple, and yellow attract bees, whereas red flowers are primarily pollinated by birds because bees cannot see the color red.
I learned something new from reading this book, that flowers are often brightly colored and fragrant because this makes them attractive to bugs and birds, but what surprised me was that specific colors and smells attract certain animals. For example, flowers that are blue, purple, and yellow attract bees, whereas red flowers are primarily pollinated by birds because bees cannot see the color red.
September 16, 2019
While the info in this title is new to me I didn’t enjoy the book and I love the natural world especially flowers. First I didn’t like the purple cactus narrator who was trying to be just a little too funny.
Secondly I am not sure all of the color theory is valid, one statement was that white flowers attract bats and moths prefaced by the word some. Yes, I immediately thought of all the white clove in my yard and bordering my lane that attract bees.
Positive points for an end page depicting the parts of a flower and the process of pollination.
Will be looking for more info on this topic just to validate this particular type of information.
Secondly I am not sure all of the color theory is valid, one statement was that white flowers attract bats and moths prefaced by the word some. Yes, I immediately thought of all the white clove in my yard and bordering my lane that attract bees.
Positive points for an end page depicting the parts of a flower and the process of pollination.
Will be looking for more info on this topic just to validate this particular type of information.
April 6, 2019
The art was rendered beautifully, and I learned something. However, the story lacked context. Why is this plant lecturing me? WHY is each animal attracted to each color? It didn't tell enough.
November 6, 2018
Flower Talk: How Plants Use Color to Communicate by Sara Levine
Illustrated by: Masha D’yans
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group
ISBN:9781541519282
Publish Date: March 5. 2019
Thanks to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for the ebook ARC of Flower Talk: How Plants Use Color to Communicate by Sara Levine and illustrated by Masha D’yans in exchange for an honest review.
This book features a cantankerous talking cactus as a narrator, revealing to readers the significance of different colors of flowers in terms of which pollinators (bees, bats, birds, etc.) talk to a fun non function of presentation of science info that may be new to many kids — and adults!
I give this book a rating of 3 stars. This book has nice colorful illustrations and a lot of good facts. I was going to read to my four year old daughter, she wasn’t really interested in the story, she did love the colorful pictures though.
#FlowerTalk #NetGalley
Illustrated by: Masha D’yans
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group
ISBN:9781541519282
Publish Date: March 5. 2019
Thanks to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for the ebook ARC of Flower Talk: How Plants Use Color to Communicate by Sara Levine and illustrated by Masha D’yans in exchange for an honest review.
This book features a cantankerous talking cactus as a narrator, revealing to readers the significance of different colors of flowers in terms of which pollinators (bees, bats, birds, etc.) talk to a fun non function of presentation of science info that may be new to many kids — and adults!
I give this book a rating of 3 stars. This book has nice colorful illustrations and a lot of good facts. I was going to read to my four year old daughter, she wasn’t really interested in the story, she did love the colorful pictures though.
#FlowerTalk #NetGalley
June 25, 2019
This is a non-fiction book which looks a lot like a regular picture book in the way that it is laid out and is also written much in the same way as a picture book. I find that this is very helpful for engaging children that would not normally be interested in non-fiction texts.
The book explains the reasons for flowers being made of various colours, as well as the different species that this attracts. It also explains the way in which the flowers attract pollinators for their own benefit and that this is necessary for the continued existence of plants. Furthermore, the book ends with a concise fact summary which goes into further detail about the process of pollination. This includes a labelled diagram; a step by step guide; advice on protecting pollinators and a list of further texts one could read to learn more about pollinators.
This would be an excellent text to use when teaching the plant life-cycle and pollination.
The book explains the reasons for flowers being made of various colours, as well as the different species that this attracts. It also explains the way in which the flowers attract pollinators for their own benefit and that this is necessary for the continued existence of plants. Furthermore, the book ends with a concise fact summary which goes into further detail about the process of pollination. This includes a labelled diagram; a step by step guide; advice on protecting pollinators and a list of further texts one could read to learn more about pollinators.
This would be an excellent text to use when teaching the plant life-cycle and pollination.
May 17, 2019
Flower Talk: How Plants Use Color to Communicate by Sara Levine, illustrated by Masha D’yans. PICTURE BOOK. Millbrook Press, 2019. $20. 9781541519282
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
A purple cactus has information for us humans. Flowers’ colors aren’t for us humans to enjoy, they are to signal the pollinators to help them.
The slightly annoyed tone of the purple cactus is a great voice for this book. The information is actually relayed very simply and understandably. I think middle school teachers will like this for science class just as much as elementary teachers. Wherever they talk about pollination.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
A purple cactus has information for us humans. Flowers’ colors aren’t for us humans to enjoy, they are to signal the pollinators to help them.
The slightly annoyed tone of the purple cactus is a great voice for this book. The information is actually relayed very simply and understandably. I think middle school teachers will like this for science class just as much as elementary teachers. Wherever they talk about pollination.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
November 22, 2020
A feisty cactus is the narrator for a journey through the plant world, introducing the interesting subject of flower color, what colors attract what species and pollination. This is a really fun book that will get kids thinking and observing the plants around them. The prickly guide makes the story appealing and a is great read aloud for a classroom or story hour.
Masha D'Yans' watercolor illustrations are truly lovely and the wide format provides plenty of room for lots of interesting creatures drawn to the blossoms.
Back matter includes more detailed information on pollination, a list of additional books and suggestions for how to keep pollinators safe.
Masha D'Yans' watercolor illustrations are truly lovely and the wide format provides plenty of room for lots of interesting creatures drawn to the blossoms.
Back matter includes more detailed information on pollination, a list of additional books and suggestions for how to keep pollinators safe.
August 22, 2023
Levine has a good pattern of relatively simple books with extra guidance on relationships and patterns that can really help young children come closer to mastery on the subjects. Her child characters are also diverse.
But in this one, the extra detail is missing, and so are the children. Yes, there's a good bit of back matter including an eco-aware message. And the story & art are extra funny. But the flowers shown are not named, which imo is hugely important.
For the sake of the target audience, I'm rounding up to the three stars I've given the rest of Levine's work. And I'll look for other books by the illustrator.
But in this one, the extra detail is missing, and so are the children. Yes, there's a good bit of back matter including an eco-aware message. And the story & art are extra funny. But the flowers shown are not named, which imo is hugely important.
For the sake of the target audience, I'm rounding up to the three stars I've given the rest of Levine's work. And I'll look for other books by the illustrator.
May 2, 2019
A little cactus explains how plants use flowers to communicate with different kinds of animals in order to reproduce, what colors of flower appeal to what species, and how pollination/plant reproduction works. This colorful exploration of plant reproduction is attractive, informative, and fun!
Although the cactus claims that flowers have NOTHING to do with humans, people's obsession with various flowers and plants have made an impact on the success of certain species (grasses for lawns, garden flowers, fruits, and vegetables). Humans can be just as taken with the allure of flowers.
Although the cactus claims that flowers have NOTHING to do with humans, people's obsession with various flowers and plants have made an impact on the success of certain species (grasses for lawns, garden flowers, fruits, and vegetables). Humans can be just as taken with the allure of flowers.
March 20, 2023
Flower Talk is a colorful concept book great for introducing the topic of pollination in an easy to understand way. Narrated by a matter-of-fact cactus, this humorous nonfiction book describes how flowers use color to communicate with pollinators and work together. The scientific information is engaging and light throughout, while backmatter includes further resources for those who want to delve deeper into the topic. For Grades K-3.
Union County Library card holders can access this title through NC Kids.
- Reviewed by Chelsea G.
Union County Library card holders can access this title through NC Kids.
- Reviewed by Chelsea G.
June 19, 2019
This is a book about why flowers are usually certain colors in order to attract the help they need to spread their pollen and seeds. It is told to you by a cactus character.
I enjoyed most of this book and actually learned some stuff about flowers that I didn’t realize. The one thing that ruined it from being a ‘great’ book for me was the cactus’s ‘attitude’ towards you, the reader. It felt unnecessary.
I enjoyed most of this book and actually learned some stuff about flowers that I didn’t realize. The one thing that ruined it from being a ‘great’ book for me was the cactus’s ‘attitude’ towards you, the reader. It felt unnecessary.
January 11, 2021
Starting a unit on plants? This is a must for any life science unit. The narrative nonfiction writing invites readers into why plants have certain colors. The plant describes why they are certain colors and which animals are drawn to a specific color. This explains how the animals help plants grow. Have students demonstrate their understanding by writing about or drawing a flower and explaining which animals would show up and help them.
December 21, 2021
Talking flowers? Yep. Right on the first page. The clever narration of this book will grab the attention of readers, while the fascinating facts of the simple colors the see around them will hold them glued to the pages until the end. This is a book I wish I had read as a child. Nature hikes would have been so much more meaningful in allowing me to see the connections between plants and the world around them.
July 28, 2019
A brief introduction to pollination and the interactions between flora and fauna .. I love how it explores the concept of colors as one of the languages that flowers use to communicate... hadn't really thought about it to be honest!!
Could have been a little more detailed and the flower speaking to use could've been a little less cheeky!! That's just my opinion though..
Could have been a little more detailed and the flower speaking to use could've been a little less cheeky!! That's just my opinion though..
December 1, 2019
The narrator adds a little sass, which I liked. I learned quite a bit about how flowers communicate and the back pages even had a little picture drawing of flower reproduction. If you like flowers that don't give off fragrance or prefer hummingbirds, have red flowers. If you want butterflies, you need to worry about the shape of the flower more than the color.
February 3, 2020
Amusing, factual and gorgeous illustrations about plants and their flowers. Told from the point of view of an adorable but slightly cranky cactus, the true meaning of flowers and their colors come to light. A afterwards and information about environmental issues/ways to help plants included at the end. Accessible for most ages (5 and up; even adults) can learn about the wild world of flowers.
April 2, 2020
Oh how I wish I had been able to use this book in a live storytime setting. It's a fascinating nonfiction books about using colors to communicate. I think kiddos would learn so many facts and tidbits! I learned stuff!!! Discovering that red flowers mostly attract birds makes sense (think hummingbird food!). And yellow attracts bees.......
Again, this fuels the "make nonfiction fun" trend!
Again, this fuels the "make nonfiction fun" trend!
June 19, 2020
A book like this is always enjoyable. It's a science lesson in disguise.
The reader meets a rather grouchy cactus plant that wants humans to know what the colours of flowers really mean. They grow a certain way and are particular colours for specific pollinators - birds, insects and the wind.
This is gorgeously illustrated and fun to read.
The reader meets a rather grouchy cactus plant that wants humans to know what the colours of flowers really mean. They grow a certain way and are particular colours for specific pollinators - birds, insects and the wind.
This is gorgeously illustrated and fun to read.
July 1, 2020
This new book from Sara Levine features a cantankerous talking cactus as a narrator, revealing to readers the significance of different colors of flowers in terms of which pollinators (bees, bats, birds, etc.) different colors "talk" to. A fun nonfiction presentation of science info that may be new to many kids--and adults!
August 30, 2020
This children’s book is informative and well-written, with short and easy-to-understand text. But my favorite thing about it is the illustrations by Masha D’Yans. Done in a bright rainbow of watercolors, they are truly beautiful. We checked this book out of our library, but I think I’ll be ordering my own copy. I am loving it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews