PotsandPlots

The Stuff That Stuff is Made Of has been in my “books I need to review box” for far too long. It was a victim of the strong case of “meh” I contracted in September. I’ve been keen to get to it, as it’s a beautiful book about plants from around the world. Plants that we use in our everyday lives. Hero plants that we take for granted.

Plant With: Children’s Non Fiction.

Rating: 🌻🌻🌻 – Hardy Perennial – An excellent addition to any home or school library.

Review Copy sent by publisher.

Out Now from Magic Cat books. (Affiliate Link)

The Review

Over 64 pages and 30 amazing plants, Jonathan Dori will take us on a journey through the many different plantstuffs that we cannot do without.

Whether it be for obvious ones like tea (though not coffee!), rubber, and pine, or more esoteric plants, such as dandelion, gutta-percha, and boabab, Dori and his illustrators, Raxenne Manquiz and Jiatong Liu, have got you covered.

Each entry consists of a double-page spread, with one half being given over to botanical information about the plant, including a picture of what it looks like. The other half describes how it is used and the important processes it is involved in. These might be natural or industrial. For example, whilst sugar is refined to make sweets, bamboo is used to feed pandas. Very different processes, but both are useful!

There is often a historical context for the plant, too. For example, how beech trees became associated with thunder, how the Mayans planted crops of beans, squash and maize close to each other, or how dandelions were used to make rubber in the Second World War.

The book is packed full of information. Each picture is wonderfully evocative, drawing the reader in. By showing the cultural importance of plants from all over the world, The Stuff That Stuff is Made Of presents an absorbing global history of horticulture and agriculture. This really is a lovely book, perfect for inquisitive children and very handy for any home or school library.