Flower Power: The Magic of Nature’s Healers

Hajek’s assertively whimsical illustrations of flowers—a dandy astride a sailboat, holding an enormous Echinacea bloom; a serene woman wearing a bellflower and perched sidesaddle on a goldfinch—anchor this curious compendium of floral folklore. An eclectic assortment of plants, including artichoke, Madonna lily, Mary thistle, pineapple, and rowan, each receive a full-page illustration in a style that, per the author’s note, combines references to Maria Sibylla Merian, a 17th-century botanical artist, with “the Renaissance, folk art, and miniatures.” The accompanying text is a jumble of traditional beliefs and stories mixed with occasional fragments of scientific information: bellflower’s description cites its “large amounts of vitamin C and insulin” alongside its use as a wart cure and its status, in “many old children’s books,” as “a magic flower” linked to fairies. Of the common mallow: “it produces fruits in the shape of small cheese wheels.” The effect is amusing, but the information is scattershot, and the intricate illustrations, though atmospheric, hint at fantastical tales the text never tells. Ages 8–12. [em](Apr.) [/em]