Shanleya's Quest: A Botany Adventure for Kids Ages 9-99

By Thomas J. Elpel

Book Overview

In a mythical world where time is a liquid that falls as rain upon the land, young Shanleya paddles her canoe out to the "Tree Islands" to learn the plant traditions of her people. Each island is home to a separate family of plants and an unforgettable Guardian with lessons to teach about the identification and uses of those plants. Shanleya's Quest is a truly unique educational book that presents botanical concepts and plant identification skills in an easy and fun metaphorical format for children as well as for adults who are young at heart.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1892784165
• ISBN13: 9781892784162
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: HOPS Press
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.7" x 11.1"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Good, but...

I really liked the idea for this book. A modern-day myth with accurate botanical information? Sign me up! Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed with the execution. The writing style is somewhat stiff and repetitive, which I find off-putting. However, since most kids (or adults, for that matter) aren't as picky as I am, they probably won't mind. It's still a cool book!

Introducing young readers to the complex and diverse world of plant life

Shanleya is a young girl who lives in a world where Time is a liquid that falls as rain. When Shanleya paddles her canoe out to the "Tree Islands" to learn the plant traditions of her people, she learns that each island is home to a separate family of plants, and encounters an unforgettable Guardian with lessons to teach her about the identification and uses of those plants. A mythic, fairytale-like picturebook story for young readers, Shanleya's Quest: A Botany Adventure For Kids Ages 9 To 99 is as entertaining as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, introducing young readers to the complex and diverse world of plant life -- and how to correctly identify various species of plants. There are even bits of sage advice along the way such as "In our national parks it is illegal to pick flowers. Please leave them for others to enjoy!". Deftly written by Thomas Elpel (whose informative text is enhanced with the artwork of Gloria Brown), Shanleya's Quest is confidently recommended for school and community library collections.