Phyllis Root

Sam, die Flussratte, träumt vom Meer. Nichts kann ihn aufhalten, nicht die Skepsis der Nachbarn, die Zweifel von Herrn Dinkel oder Frau Gerstenkorn. So baut er sich ein Boot, das ihn hinaus in die Ferne tragen soll. Und eines Tages segelt er davon ... Daheim sorgen sich alle um ihn und vermuten das Schlimmste. Bis eines Tages eine Möwe einen Zettel über Sams verlassenem Haus fallen lässt: Macht euch bitte keine Sorgen - ich bin glücklich. "Eine Kostbarkeit." Gabriele Hoffmann, BuchMarkt "Ein literarischer Glücksfall: Hier stimmt einfach alles!" Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung

An intrepid search for Minnesota’s wildflower treasures in out-of-the-way places Beyond Minnesota’s sunlit prairies and lush north woods, wonders of wildflowers bloom, gracing fens and forested swamps, sand dunes and the rocky North Shore, even ditches and abandoned mine dumps. Venturing farther afield than their first book Searching for Native Wildflowers, Phyllis Root and Kelly Povo set out to explore smaller, less-traveled habitats throughout the state and find these hidden gems of nature. Chasing Wildflowers brings us along on their pursuit of Minnesota’s native wildflowers. Featuring Povo’s gorgeous photographs and Root’s finely detailed descriptions of nearly two hundred species, Chasing Wildflowers is both a handy guidebook and an entertaining chronicle of the thrills and occasional mishaps of the friends’ searches, from wading rivers and climbing rocky outcrops to getting their boots stuck in deep muck while on the run from an approaching storm. Here, readers will find twenty-eight of the orchids growing in Minnesota, forty-three of the state’s rare species, and flowers with names like Allegheny monkey flower, hairy false goldenaster, naked miterwort, and spoon-leaf sundew-as well as plenty of inspiration to set off on their own adventures. Neither botanists nor biologists, Root and Povo are wildflower enthusiasts determined to learn about native wildflowers wherever they can be found, providing readers with all the information they might need to find and identify rare and intriguing species in unexpected places. Along with their tales of adventure and exploration are resources and practical tips for your own outings, a glossary, and suggestions for helping preserve native habitats and wildflowers. A uniquely useful and engrossing resource for gardeners, naturalists, artists, hikers, photographers, and beyond, Chasing Wildflowers is the ultimate guide for anyone curious to learn more about our beautiful and surprising natural world.

Cold, wet, and acidic, bogs appear to be extremely hostile to life, yet numerous plants and animals have adapted in fascinating ways in order to survive there. In Big Belching Bog, Phyllis Root lets us in on the secrets of the mysterious bog, describing such special inhabitants as plants that eat insects, bog lemmings, and frogs that stay frozen through the winter and thaw out in the spring. But what's that coming up from the bottom of the bog? The biggest bog secret of all, we learn, is the remarkable process of methane gas belching out of the bog. The gas is created by decaying peat moss and forms a bulge in the surface of the moss six inches or taller before breaking through. Does this "belch" make a sound? No one knows, says Root, because no one has ever heard it. In fact, bogs are known as some of the quietest places on earth. Maybe you will be the first to hear the big bog belch! Illustrated by renowned woodcut artist Betsy Bowen, Big Belching Bog also contains a section of bog facts, including more information about the plants and animals mentioned in the book as well as tips for visiting a bog. Big Belching Bog will stir the imagination of young readers and teach them about the landscape and environment of these mysterious and, ahem, gassy places.

From an all-star team comes a lyrical picture-book biography about a writer and master gardener who created beauty in a harsh island habitat that was visited by literary and artistic luminaries of her time. Celia Thaxter grew up on a desolate island off the coast of Maine, where her father worked as lighthouse keeper. Amid the white and gray of the sea, the rocks, and even the birds, young Celia found color where she could: green mosses and purple starfish and pink morning glories by the shore. And she planted her first garden, tucking bright marigolds between rocky ledges. When she was twelve, Celia's family moved to nearby Appledore Island, where her father built a large hotel, and Celia planted a bigger, ever-growing garden with nearly sixty types of flowers, from asters to wisteria. Guests flocked to the hotel from around the world, among them such writers as Longfellow, Whittier, and Hawthorne. Celia had been writing poems about the island, her garden, and the sea, and they would be printed in magazines and books, making her a foremother of writing about nature. Now, for the first time, Celia Planted a Garden showcases her life and work, in a poetic, vividly imagined picture book from a team of two authors and an illustrator, each recipients of numerous awards. More about Celia Thaxter, including a rich time line and bibliography, awaits readers in the back matter.

A Chicago Public Library’s Best Informational Books for Younger Readers selectionBegin with a Bee and its story of the life of one queen bee, a rusty-patched bumblebee, teaches us not only about bees but also about our own responsibilities in the natural worldBy looking closely at the life cycle of one bee, Begin with a Bee helps readers of all ages understand and appreciate the contributions and significance of all bees. The life cycle of the rusty-patched bumblebee is a tale of wonder, the adventure of one queen bee who carries an entire colony of bees inside her tiny body. Her story begins in the spring when she emerges from a hole in the ground to search for pollen. She finds a nest, “underground best,” lays a few eggs, and seals them in pollen. All summer this single queen lays more eggs, and more worker bees hatch. They gather pollen and maintain the colony until next year’s queen hatches in the fall.The queen bee’s life unfolds through Claudia McGehee’s captivating illustrations. The authors-three beloved and prolific writers of award-winning children’s books-impart the poetry and basic science of the rusty-patched bumblebee, the first bee to appear on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Endangered Species list. Extensive commentary at the end of the book offers suggestions for being a friend to bees as well as a good citizen of the natural world. It also introduces the native plants that bumblebees need for survival. Begin with a Bee might inspire a child (or any of us) to seek out, identify, even cultivate these essential flowers-and participate in the next chapter in the story of all bumblebees.

" 'You can grow your own farm anywhere' is the empowering message of this inclusive picture book." -- School Library Journal (starred review) You might think a farm means fields, tractors, and a barnyard full of animals. But you can plant a farm anywhere you like A box or a bucket, a boot or a pan -- almost anything can be turned into a home for green, growing things. Windows, balconies, and front steps all make wonderful spots to start. Who knows what plants you may choose to grow and who will come to see your new garden? Phyllis Root delivers a modern rhyming mantra for anyone hoping to put their green thumbs to good use, while G. Brian Karas's cheerful urban illustrations sprout from every page. After all, anywhere can be a farm -- all it takes is one small seed and someone to plant it.

The story of a forest “lost” by a surveying error-and all the flora and fauna to be found thereA forest, of course, doesn’t need a map to know where to grow. But people need a map to find it. And in 1882 when surveyors set out to map a part of Minnesota, they got confused, or tired and cold (it was November), and somehow mapped a great swath of ancient trees as a lake. For more than seventy-five years, the mistake stayed on the map, and the forest remained safe from logging-no lumber baron expects to find timber in a lake, after all. The Lost Forest tells the story of this lucky error and of the 144 acres of old-growth red and white pine it preserved. With gentle humor, Phyllis Root introduces readers to the men at their daunting task, trekking across Minnesota, measuring and marking the vast land into townships and sections and quarters. She takes us deep into a stand of virgin pine, one of the last and largest in the state, where U.S. history and natural history meet. With the help of Betsy Bowen’s finely observed and beautiful illustrations, she shows us all the life that can be found in the Lost Forest.Accompanying the story is a wealth of information about the Cadastral Survey and about the plants and animals that inhabit forests-making the book a valuable guide for readers who might want to look even deeper into the history of Minnesota, the flora and fauna of old-growth forests, and the apportioning of land in America.

A beautifully illustrated, family-friendly guide to Minnesota’s native wildflowers and how to find them Once prairie grasses and flowers bloomed for hundreds of miles in the western part of what we now call Minnesota. Once tiny orchids grew among the roots of giant old pines, and fleeting blossoms sheltered in the shade of great maple and oak forests. These flowers that grew here for hundreds of years, though harder to find now, are still there, and this book shows you how to discover them.Searching for Minnesota’s Native Wildflowers chronicles the ten years that Phyllis Root and Kelly Povo spent exploring Minnesota’s woods, prairies, hillsides, lakes, and bogs for wildflowers, taking pictures and notes, gathering clues, mapping the way for fellow flower hunters. This book is a treasure trove of plant lore and information, the perfect companion for anyone who wants to find-or simply to find out more about-shooting stars and kitten tails, prairie smoke and Dutchman’s breeches, blazing star and butterfly weed, and more native flowers than most Minnesotans imagine are blooming nearby.Readers of Searching for Minnesota’s Native Wildflowers will learn where to look for wildflowers and how to identify them, whether in the woods, wetlands, peatlands, or the prairie in spring, summer, or fall; around the state’s 10,000 (or so) lakes; on the North Shore; or, especially, in Minnesota’s many great state parks. Featuring helpful tips, exquisite photographs, and the story of their own search as your guide, Phyllis and Kelly place the waiting wonder of Minnesota’s wildflowers within easy reach.

For any anywhere farm, here's all that you need: soil and sunshine, some water, a seed. You might think a farm means fields, tractors, and a barnyard full of animals. But you can plant a farm anywhere you like A box or a bucket, a boot or a pan -- almost anything can be turned into a home for green, growing things. Windows, balconies, and front steps all make wonderful spots to start. Who knows what plants you may choose to grow and who will come to see your new garden? Phyllis Root delivers a modern rhyming mantra for anyone hoping to put their green thumbs to good use, while G. Brian Karas's cheerful urban illustrations sprout from every page. After all, anywhere can be a farm -- all it takes is one small seed and someone to plant it.

Five toads hop, four brook trout swim, three elk graze, two loons call, and one beaver gnaws on a paper birch tree, all under one North Star. Through bog and marsh, along river and lake, across prairie and into the woods, children learn what lives where by counting the creatures on foot or in flight, swimming or perching in exquisite woodcut and watercolor illustrations created by Beckie Prange and Betsy Bowen in an artistic collaboration. For those looking for more about the pictured wildlife, Phyllis Root includes fascinating facts and information on the states ecosystems and the plants and animals that make their homes there.

Phyllis Root and Helen Craig knit together a suitably sweet finale to Bonnie Bumble's week on the farm. It's Sunday on Bonnie Bumble's farm, and snowflakes as big as balls of wool are falling. The cow, the duck, the hens, and even Spot the dog are all chilly and shaking. "This will never d-d-d-do," says Bonnie with chattering teeth--and soon is busy with needles and yarn, knitting something cozy for everyone. But how can she make the sun beam again in the big cold sky? Picture-book luminaries Phyllis Root and Helen Craig wind up their Bonnie Bumble series with a funny tale offering an unexpected twist.

"The cozy, humorous story is guaranteed to invite giggling kids into their parents' beds." --Kirkus Reviews On a stormy night in a little house, only Papa keeps snoring away--snurkle, snark--unaware of the wild weather outside and the growing number of nervous bedmates within. Can nothing wake him? Creak says the bed. . . . With a cumulative series of comical events, this delightful story sends readers barreling toward bedlam.

Author Phyllis Root and illustrator Betsy Bowen last explored the vast, boggy peatlands of northern Minnesota in their book Big Belching Bog. Now, in Plant a Pocket of Prairie, Root and Bowen take young readers on a trip to another of Minnesota’s important ecosystems: the prairie. Once covering almost 40 percent of the United States, native prairie is today one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world. Plant a Pocket of Prairie teaches children how changes in one part of the system affect every other part: when prairie plants are destroyed, the animals who eat those plants and live on or around them are harmed as well. Root shows what happens when we work to restore the prairies, encouraging readers to “plant a pocket of prairie” in their own backyards. By growing native prairie plants, children can help re-create food and habitat for the many birds, butterflies, and other animals that depend on them. “Plant cup plants,” Root suggests. “A thirsty chickadee might come to drink from a tiny leaf pool. Plant goldenrod. A Great Plains toad might flick its tongue at goldenrod soldier beetles.” An easy explanation of the history of the prairie, its endangered status, and how to go about growing prairie plants follows, as well as brief descriptions of all the plants and animals mentioned in the story. With Betsy Bowen’s beautiful, airy illustrations capturing the feel of an open prairie and all its inhabitants, readers of all ages will be inspired to start planting seeds and watching for the many fascinating animals their plants attract. What a marvelous transformation could take place if we all planted a pocket of prairie!

A tale about a rat who follows his dreams and goes to sea, with pictures by the illustrator of The Gruffalo.Sam, the river rat, dreams of going to sea. Day and night, whatever he is doing, his thoughts turn seawards. His neighbours tell him to think of practical matters like fixing his fence and getting his garden in order. But Sam decides to build his own boat. His neighbours are sceptical, "You'll be swallowed by a shark," they warn. By spring his boat is ready and Sam sets off on his voyage. The neighbours tell each other that that’s the last of Sam. But as they return to their vegetable patches, Sam is skimming over the wild green waves, and one day a passing seagull drops a note that reads, "Dear friends, please do not worry, I am happy. Love, Sam." Written in lyrical prose by Phyllis Root and illustrated in bright bold colours by Axel Sheffler, this book is the story of a river rat who follows his heart and realizes his dreams.

"Root and Walker introduce readers to a whole springtime full of babies taking that first thrilling step toward independence." --The Horn Book Come join these baby animals as they fly, swim, wiggle, and slide, all with the help of their mamas. But what these babies like best, of course, is spotting other baby animals With Phyllis Root's buoyant rhythms and David Walker's sunny illustrations, here is a guaranteed favorite for babies and toddlers, who will love shouting out the rhyming word sure to come on the next spread.

An ear-tickling, eye-teasing romp for little listeners, led by an award-winning author and illustrator. Do you really, really want to see a moose -- a long-leggy moose -- a branchy-antler, dinner-diving, bulgy-nose moose? Spurred by Phyllis Root's sing-songy text and Randy Cecil's buoyant illustrations, this hunt for an elusive moose through woods, swamps, bushes, and hills is just as fun as the final surprise discovery of moose en masse. Children will laugh at the running visual joke -- what is that little dog looking at? -- and ask for repeated reads of this satisfying tale.

"Perfect for reading aloud, this counting book has lots of sound effects that children will love to replicate. . . . Great fun." -- Booklist One duck is stuck in the muck. Can two fish, tails going swish, help? What about three moose, munching on spruce? Will four crickets, chirping in the thickets, manage to pull the unlucky duck out of the muck? Bright, spirited illustrations by Jane Chapman enhance this one-of-a-kind counting tale by Phyllis Root -- a feast of sounds and numbers sure to have listeners scrambling to join in the slippy, sloppy fun.

"A picture book that passes the fun test with flying fizz." -- Booklist It's hot. Hot, hot, hot So Junie and Jake and Poppa and the baby want to go to the lake. But can they make it there in their rattletrap car? It doesn't go fast, and it doesn't go far -- but with the help of some razzleberry dazzleberry snazzleberry fizz, a beach ball, a surfboard, and a three-speed, wind-up, paddle-wheel boat, they're off to the lake where it's cool, cool, cool Phyllis Root's wonderfully inventive wordplay and Jill Barton's spirited, expressive illustrations make this a read-aloud road trip to remember.