WE CAN HEAR WITHOUT EARS

And Other Things You Didn't Know We Plants Could Do

REVIEWS FOR WE CAN HEAR WITHOUT EARS

Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“You think we plants do nothing—just stand around all day with our roots stuck in the ground. We’re like green lampposts, right? Well! We’d like to set a few things straight.” Speaking on behalf of tulips and sunflowers, willows and pine trees, the carnivorous Venus flytrap, and more, a chatty, slightly sarcastic collective narrator argues that plants are crucial. They address their complaints to a variety of creatures from mice and lizards to seagulls and gardeners. Along the way, they declare that “making food is our superpower” and that they can block enemy insects with sap and, in the case of the tomato plant, release a chemical to attract a wasp to eat a caterpillar munching on its leaves: “Those tomato plants are like a dinner bell. Ding, ding, ding! Come and get it!” They explain the symbiotic relationship between plants and fungi and how they communicate to help one another out in times of distress. An enchanting mix of whimsy and well-delivered facts, Peters’ portrait of community and cooperation among plants offers a model for us “nonplants” to consider if we, too, want a successful future, from being more attentive to our surroundings to using more renewable energy. Ridolfi’s enticing mixed-media collages blend earthy, energetic botanical sketches with woodblock-style prints to depict a variety of landscapes showcasing plant power.

A delightful, humorous journey that will have youngsters regarding flora with a newfound respect.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

The plants in this cheeky, irreverent nature study are on a mission to shed their stationary reputation and let readers know they have a lot going on under their calm, inanimate demeanor. Tulips, among other green plants, proudly name themselves as “leafy green food factories,” creating their own food through photosynthesis, a feat that even the smartest animal can’t do. In dry conditions, willow trees become “water wizards,” with shallow roots that absorb ground water and thick, hairy leaves that protect the water from varying climates. Tomato plants can feel the sound vibration of a caterpillar and release foul, repellant oil, while trees in large forests communicate through webs of buried fungi. Different plants narrate different attributes, and each spread is accompanied by a paragraph or so in smaller text that offers more details on the biological structure and processes that are being lauded by the various flora. Mixed media collage art brims with a dimensional energy, matching the vibrant, sassy tone of the text, while a variety of animals run through different landscapes of lush forest, dry deserts, and sweet little gardens. The layered elements create a sense of continuity from one scene to the next, embracing the idea that all of nature is connected and that the role these plants play is essential and should be celebrated.  KQG

Booklist

“We’d like to set a few things straight,” starts the Plant Kingdom, explaining how making food is their “superpower” and how animals couldn't even live without them and the oxygen produced by their photosynthesis. Moreover, plants have more senses than animals do, most have defense mechanisms against attackers, and many live in big, interactive communities with fungi and insects as “best buds.” In fact, Peters writes, it might behoove us “nonplants” to take a closer look at the many ways we resemble our green cousins. We might just have something to learn from them about relying more on renewable energy, adapting to increasingly scarce resources, and staying connected to all life. Flora often loom larger than the fauna in Ridolfi’s stylized, brightly colored flat paper and mixed-media collages; her charming mice and other small creatures sometimes resemble Leo Lionni’s, and the human presence is largely limited to glimpses of a brown face or hands. A mild scolding that may well leave young readers with a whole new perspective on their place in nature. — John Peters

Top Ten Reasons Why I Wanted to Write About Plants for Kids

10. I love plants. 

I grow them in my yard. I talk to them, and I feel bad if they die. I even have a sweatshirt that says, “I might look like I’m listening to you. But in my head, I’m thinking about getting more plants.” They say to write about your passions, and I’m passionate about plants, especially native plants. 

9. Plants are important.

Humans and animals of all kinds need plants. We eat plants – like the oats in our oatmeal -- or we eat the animals that have eaten plants – like the chickens that eat food made from corn or soybeans. Either way, we can’t live without plants. That alone seems like a very good reason to write about them for young people. After all, young people will grow up someday and be in charge of the world. They may as well know what’s important.

8. Kids read more than enough books about animals.

It’s true, kids love animals, especially baby animals. I didn’t think I was the right writer to tell them about cheetahs. But I figured I was the one to write a book that might give kids lots of reasons to love plants. 

7. I wanted to hear what plants sounded like if they could talk.

I discovered they’re a little sassy. Maybe they have felt ignored by people for too long. I liked the sassy voice I was hearing in my head and wanted to put that down on paper.

6. I wanted to learn more about all their clever skills.

Once I started to learn how busy plants are all day, I wanted to know more. They can defend themselves, they can attack their enemies, they can find water in dry places, and they can hear without ears! They do all this without being able to move. I was pulled in right away.

5. I admire a good chef. 

What plants are able to make in their leafy kitchens is nothing less than magical. Every day, while soaking up a bit of solar energy, they throw together the simplest ingredients – air and water – and make their own food. Why not give these celebrity chefs a little attention?

4. I’m persistent.

Once I thought of the idea of writing about clever plants, I couldn’t give it up. I’m like a dog that won’t let go of a bone. Writers need persistence as much as talent. Another word for persistence might be stubbornness. And related to this reason ...

3. I’m practical.

After writing a hundred drafts to try to discover the best approach to the subject, it seemed like a shame to just give up. Having said that, I do not consider all the time spent searching for the right approach to be a waste of time. All the writing I do is good practice for the next writing I do.

2. I didn’t have the courage to write a book about fungi.

Plants are needy, too. They can’t live without all the microscopic fungi that live in the soil. And if plants can’t live without them, that means we can’t, either. But so far, microscopic fungi is a subject I might let other children’s book writers focus on.

And the number one reason I wanted to write about plants for kids:

1. I wanted to see if anybody would create stuffies to go with the book.

Wouldn’t a Venus fly trap stuffy be cool? Or a bright yellow sunflower stuffy? Or a fuzzy red maple leaf? Perfect!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR

Lisa Westberg Peters is the author of over twenty children’s books, including PUSH-PULL MORNING and OUR FAMILY TREE, which won the Minnesota Book Award. She lives with her husband and lots of native plants in St. Paul, Minnesota, and she grows even more native plants at her cabin in northwest Wisconsin. 

Danielle Ridolfi is a picture-book author, illustrator, and instructor in children’s studies and illustration. She was the 2024 recipient of the Ezra Jack Keats/Kerlan Memorial Fellowship. She is the author-illustrator of WHEN THE DARK CLOUDS COME.