About this item
Do you know what a Solanum caule inermi herbaceo, foliis pinnatis incises, racemis simplicibus is?* Carolus (Karl) Linnaeus started off as a curious child who loved exploring the garden. Despite his intelligence - and his mother's scoldings - he was a poor student, preferring to be outdoors with his beloved plants and bugs. As he grew up, Karl's love of nature led him to take on a seemingly impossible task: to give a scientific name to every living thing on earth. The result was the Linnaean system - the basis for the classification system used by biologists around the world today. Backyard sciences are brought to life in beautiful color. Back matter includes more information about Linnaeus and scientific classification, a classification chart, a time line, source notes, resources for young readers, and a bibliography.
About the Author
Itch! You know the feeling--that tickly, tingly, crawly sensation that you just have to scratch. And it's always in a place just...out...of...reach. But why do we get itchy? Lots of reasons: mosquitoes, poison ivy, blackflies, bristly caterpillars, cactus, lice. Why do these things affect us so drastically, and how can we stop the itch? And can itching ever be a good thing? ITCH is a nonfiction book that delves into the science behind our most irritating encounters with nature. Readers will discover:--spiders that throw itchy hairs at their enemies,--plants that sting, bite, and scratch,--bugs that glue eggs to your hair and saw their way through your skin!The book explains the biology of plants and animals which use irritation as a weapon of defense. Divided into short, fun chapters, the book will help young readers learn about the science of their own bodies and the amazing diversity of other organisms that also get itchy. The text includes ways that young readers can safely avoid irritating plants and animals when exploring the outdoors. Each chapter contains helpful suggestions for easy, nontoxic ways for kids to soothe an annoying itch. (Try the inside of a banana peel on mosquito bites!) I love to explore the unmowed corners of the world. To research my picture book biography of Linnaeus, Karl, Get Out of the Garden, I travelled to Sweden, and took a 20-hour train ride to the Lapland wilderness. I loved the birch forests, fir trees, and the eerie glow of the Northern lights. Like Linnaeus, I've always been fascinated by plants and animals no one loves--like poison ivy, dandelions, tarantulas and scorpions. My first book was Teeth of the Lion: The Story of the Beloved and Despised Dandelion, about all the ways dandelions are used, for food, medicine and magic. I've even managed to discover something good about poison ivy--it's a major food for wildlife, especially for birds like robins, bluebirds and cardinals. Leaflets Three, Let it Be! The Story of Poison Ivy is a picture book which introduces the youngest explorers to this scary but important plant. My next book was In Praise of Poison Ivy: The Secret Virtues, Amazing History, and Dangerous Lore of the World's Most Hated Plant, a nonfiction book for adults.Check out my blog about unloved and underappreciated plants at www.unmowed.com.
