Suzanne Houghton, The Wonderful World of Carnivorous Plants, CSIRO Publishing, April 2025, 32 pp., RRP $26.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781486319527
The Wonderful World of Carnivorous Plants describes the fascinating world of carnivorous plants that trap and consume insects or molluscs.
Award-winning illustrator, Houghton, known for her nature-themed picture books, both writes and illustrates this latest work. Her main text presents the features and adaptations of carnivorous plants through lively, playful rhyming couplets. Despite the challenges of writing in rhyme, most verses maintain true rhythm and beat. The language is brief and mostly colloquial, making it accessible to young children (4 – 9 years old), and a glossary at the end of the book has definitions for more unfamiliar, scientific terms.
I especially enjoyed Houghton’s witty phrasing—such as when she playfully explains why carnivorous plants need special adaptations: It’s not like they can chase their food. They don’t have any feet.
For readers wanting more in-depth knowledge, three pages at the back of the book provide formal, detailed facts about carnivorous plants.
Houghton’s bold, detailed, and vibrantly coloured illustrations fill the pages with clear, close-up views of each plant’s distinctive features, making them both informative and visually appealing.
I recommend The Wonderful World of Carnivorous Plants for 4–9-year-old nature lovers. It would make an excellent teaching resource and CSIRO Publishing has provided Teachers notes with lesson activities linked to the Australian Curriculum.
Reviewed by Barbara Swartz
