Weeds Find a Way

by Cindy Jenson-Elliott, Carolyn Fisher (Illustrations)

Weeds are wonderful! Persistent, exuberant…these plants have personalities, and this nonfiction picture book puts them on colorful display!From bright yellow dandelions popping through cracks in sidewalks to purple loosestrife growing rampant along roadways, weeds offer unexpected splashes of color and life to the least likely of places. With lovely language and a sly sense of humor, this beautiful picture book celebrates the tenacious temperaments of these pesky plants and is sure to have little ones chanting, “Way to go, weeds!”

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Science, Nature, Childrens, Poetry, Gardening

40 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2013

Reviews

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just adored this picture book that crossed my desk the other day. It's all about the remarkable tenacity of weeds and how, like all life, they want to thrive. Beautiful illustrations, beautiful language--I would like to own this book. (High praise indeed for a librarian.)

[Amy Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Molly Bang-esque illustrations, Weeds Find a Way show the informational and beautiful side of weeds.  There are many different weeds out there in the world, and they all have different functions.  Some are brightly colored to attract bees, others blend into the foliage to deny predators.  Some spread, and some seem to pop up just about anywhere!  Weeds, like life, finds a way.  With great illustrations that denote all the small differences and a little bit of information at the end, Weeds Find a Way certainly appeals to those who love the outdoors and can't get enough of the flora around.  Great for grades 1-3.

Review cross-listed here!

[Seung Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was into this book. The illustrations were great, and it gave a different perspective on weeds - not the view that weeds are just something you must get rid of all the time in your yard or driveway.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The language in this book is lovely--and I could teach so many things about sentences from it. I love the language. It is nice, too, that more information about different kinds of weeds is given in the back of the book in informative paragraphs.

[Amy Allgeier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and informative. Easy to understand. Love the information in the back of the book. Great for elementary classrooms.

[Logan Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. I really enjoyed the detail that was put into drawing the weeds. It makes them seem more real which is great for this book. This book would make a great addition to a gardening/biology text set. I could use it to explain how weeds grow differently than other plants. We could do an experiment where we plant just the roots of a few plants found outside and see which of then grows. I

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating introduction to the miracles of weeds. The run-on sentences across pages and the semi-colons cropping up like, well, you know, weeds do not make for easy reading for youngsters though. Really liked the weed biographies in the back - sure wish publishers would think about how libraries will use their books. Could only read about half the weeds because of the flaps being taped tightly in place. Real pity.

[Kari Percival · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attracted by the title, and stayed for the gorgeous art. Good book to start a conversation about how you define a weed. So many native plants are called weeds, and we need a revolution of thought around plants to get people to recognize their ecological value. Conversely, a lot of weeds are invasives. Would like a little more of these ideas sorted out in the main text, but still a fun book for the intro to botany shelf.

[Brianna Williford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenson-Elliott, C., Fisher, C. (illustrator). (2014). Weeds Find a Way. San Diego: Beach Lane.

Jensen-Elliots book is filled with stories of how weeks grow everywhere, in tough locations. They grow between cracks in the pavement and in places people don't want. The artwork is layered and sketchy. This book would be good for early readers to learn about plants and gardening.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some reason the cover never looks terribly alluring, and yet the inside is fabulous. The illustrations are rich and bold and colorful, and the text is poetic without rhyme and full of information. Kind of like weeds, I suppose: first impressions don't always give the fullest picture of the beauty and persistence and mystery inside.

[Angie Quantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weeds Find a Way is well written and colorfully illustrated. The subject matter, weeds, is shared in such a way that even I, a gardener, admire the tenacity and beauty of weeds. After all, weeds are only unwanted plants in the wrong place! Classification guide at the end will encourage readers to identify troublesome (and stubborn) weeds in their neighborhood.

[Timothy Farring · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this would work well in a unit where you talk about plants, and growing different plants. Maybe have this book as part of a lesson plan where you grow a flower for mothers day.
I think that the information given in this book was very informative and an overall good read
The art was nice, gave these plants a very colorful vibrant life throughout the book.

[Paige Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has amazing imagery! I love the brush stroke effect and all of the bright colors! I admire how informative it is is about weeds and how they are unique! Such a great book for a quick science lesson!

[Becka Whitlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book, it's about weeds and how they can grow where others can't which is really important for kids to understand that they can thrive where others can't which is something really inspiring and we should definitely be telling them that's it okay to be themselves.

[Shay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art in this book is lovely.

I liked the fact that it was about plants that maybe don't get the respect they deserve. It also gave information about weeds including some that were mentioned in this book. We learned how plants adapt to survive in sometimes challenging environments.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the information about weeds in the back of this book, but the text in the actual story wasn't very interesting to me. It almost felt like it should rhyme, but it didn't. The character's eyes made me think of the button eyes in Coraline.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific as a story, personifying “weeds” (aka unknown plants or plants growing where you don’t want them). Great for teaching kids how to find beauty and magic in the cracks of a sidewalk. Additional notes/info at the end are super helpful for any “kid” who wants to know more.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narrative picture book that shares information about weeds - how they grow; where they grow; why they are so tenacious.
Don't miss the fact sheet and weed identification charts at the end.

[Vanessa Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book pictures are very vibrant and colorful. It is a good story line. I would love this book if I was a child.

[Kolbe Bales · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly didn't like it. Poor illustrations and hardly any content.

[Phobean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved learning about weeds I don't know. Otherwise, didn't really reach me.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What beautiful illustrations and gentle, poetic text. My son also loved the section at the end that explained more about various species of "weeds."

[Launna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of great information about plants we consider weeds and what they are useful for.

[The Transmuted Tree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Red 2nd; I love the artwork

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This nonfiction book about weeds is actually written as a beautifully descriptive poem, celebrating the tenacity and ingenuity of weeds.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Appreciate weeds! Very poetic and a bit long. Good for anyone with a very urban school setting.

[Maegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated book about weeds and informative back matter.

[Robin Obara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bryan disagreed with some of the weed portrayals

[Alise Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

so cute and informative!

[Fatemesadat shahravesh · Rating 3 out of 5]

ناداستان. درباره چگونگی رشد علف‌های هرز و تکثیر آنها