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Wicked Plants and Bugs
The Wicked Plants Coloring Book
In this delightfully devilish coloring book, Amy Stewart and Briony Morrow-Cribbs bring coloring enthusiasts the forty most menacing botanical atrocities from their New York Times bestseller Wicked Plants. Morrow-Cribbs’s exquisite etchings are now finely rendered coloring-book art and are paired with details from the original book. Drawing on history, medicine, science, and legend--and written with Stewart’s trademark wit--each wonderfully creepy spread offers a fascinating portrait of the evildoers of the plant world, from the vine that ate the South (kudzu) to the weed that killed Lincoln’s mother (white snakeroot), to the world’s deadliest seed (rosary pea).
96 pages, Paperback
Published August 9, 2016
About the author
Amy Stewart
26 books2,550 followersAmy Stewart is the New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen books, including Girl Waits with Gun, Lady Cop Makes Trouble, The Drunken Botanist, and Wicked Plants.
She lives in Portland with her husband Scott Brown, a rare book dealer.
Stay connected with Amy via her newsletter , where she offers cocktail recipes, creative inspiration, book recommendations, and more!
She lives in Portland with her husband Scott Brown, a rare book dealer.
Stay connected with Amy via her newsletter , where she offers cocktail recipes, creative inspiration, book recommendations, and more!
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 28, 2016
I received a copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis:
A beautifully presented round up of killer flora for your colouring pleasure.
If this time of year generally has you making a list (of people who have wronged you during the past year) and checking it twice, then you are definitely the sort of person for whom the colouring of deadly plants could be a relaxing and educational experience. I was woefully unaware of the original nonfiction title that spawned this black and white spin-off, but Wicked Plants is now definitely on my TBR list.
As well as providing some gorgeous and detailed line drawings of the aforementioned floral evildoers for you to wile away the hours colouring in, each plant picture is accompanied by a short paragraph of text explaining the specific wickedness of said plant and providing tidbits of scientific information about it. The cover star of the book, in case you are wondering, is the Betel Nut, a highly addictive nut prized for its chewability, but a chief cause of mouth cancer and asthma. A small selection of the 40 delightfully deadly plants included here are the innocent-seeming Water Hyacinth (waterway clogger extraordinaire), the highly toxic Death Camas (well, the name did warn you), and the completely-poisonous-except-for-one-tiny-bit (can you guess which one?) Yew. The plants are listed in alphabetical order, with a foreword from the author at the beginning, and some blank pages at the back for you to draw your own plants.
I think the most charming thing about this particular activity book is that it bears a "This book belongs to" stamp at the front, so that budding poisoners can ensure that nobody makes off with their tome of flowering death. If you are, or you know, a green thumb who is also quite at home with the dark side of plant life, this would make the perfect gift. Other than that, perhaps you could keep it beside your list of enemies, for when you need a light break.
Ten Second Synopsis:
A beautifully presented round up of killer flora for your colouring pleasure.
If this time of year generally has you making a list (of people who have wronged you during the past year) and checking it twice, then you are definitely the sort of person for whom the colouring of deadly plants could be a relaxing and educational experience. I was woefully unaware of the original nonfiction title that spawned this black and white spin-off, but Wicked Plants is now definitely on my TBR list.
As well as providing some gorgeous and detailed line drawings of the aforementioned floral evildoers for you to wile away the hours colouring in, each plant picture is accompanied by a short paragraph of text explaining the specific wickedness of said plant and providing tidbits of scientific information about it. The cover star of the book, in case you are wondering, is the Betel Nut, a highly addictive nut prized for its chewability, but a chief cause of mouth cancer and asthma. A small selection of the 40 delightfully deadly plants included here are the innocent-seeming Water Hyacinth (waterway clogger extraordinaire), the highly toxic Death Camas (well, the name did warn you), and the completely-poisonous-except-for-one-tiny-bit (can you guess which one?) Yew. The plants are listed in alphabetical order, with a foreword from the author at the beginning, and some blank pages at the back for you to draw your own plants.
I think the most charming thing about this particular activity book is that it bears a "This book belongs to" stamp at the front, so that budding poisoners can ensure that nobody makes off with their tome of flowering death. If you are, or you know, a green thumb who is also quite at home with the dark side of plant life, this would make the perfect gift. Other than that, perhaps you could keep it beside your list of enemies, for when you need a light break.
November 10, 2016
My View:
The perfect gift for the crime fiction writer in your life!
The not so secret life of poisonous plants are revealed in this deadly but charming little colouring book (relax your mind as you colour and plot the demise of the next victim in your new book.) The information – science fact and science fiction, is fascinating and paired with the exquisitely detailed drawings make for a unique gift for the writer or that difficult to buy for person; fun and informative.
The perfect gift for the crime fiction writer in your life!
The not so secret life of poisonous plants are revealed in this deadly but charming little colouring book (relax your mind as you colour and plot the demise of the next victim in your new book.) The information – science fact and science fiction, is fascinating and paired with the exquisitely detailed drawings make for a unique gift for the writer or that difficult to buy for person; fun and informative.
December 1, 2021
Today I am reviewing something a bit different but before I start I must admit that I have zero drawing or colouring skills. I guess I was more of a nerdy kid growing up in Pakistan. However, when I received this colouring book from www.chapters.pk to review I was cautious yet excited to get away from my computer screens and the usual reviews of children's books and thought ill give this activity book a try.
Artist and author Briony Morrow-Cribbs has adapted the forty "botanical atrocities" (aka plants) from New York Times bestseller Wicked Plants into this colouring book style in this creepy, Gothic 8 x 10 softcover. Facing pages to include annotated text from the original book, with stats about each plant and an explanation of what makes them wicked.
My verdict is that it is not your usual colouring book but if you want to try something different and challenge yourself, you can certainly give this activity book a try. I just didn't create any masterpiece :)
Artist and author Briony Morrow-Cribbs has adapted the forty "botanical atrocities" (aka plants) from New York Times bestseller Wicked Plants into this colouring book style in this creepy, Gothic 8 x 10 softcover. Facing pages to include annotated text from the original book, with stats about each plant and an explanation of what makes them wicked.
My verdict is that it is not your usual colouring book but if you want to try something different and challenge yourself, you can certainly give this activity book a try. I just didn't create any masterpiece :)
September 2, 2017
I received a copy of this coloring book from the author through the Goodreads Giveaway Program.
I'm a gardener and a reader of mysteries, so I was aware of some of the pants in this book...hemlock, oleander and henbane. I live in Texas so I'm aware of the invasive property of kudzu. Interestingly enough, tobacco is included!
The illustrations beg for a colored pencil or marker and the face pages share facts that you're able to ruminate over as you color. If you eat the flesh of the suicide tree it can stop your heart within 3-6 hours. A poison derived from ratbane is known as the 'poison that keelson killing.' Ergot can be traced to the Salem Witch Trials.
If you enjoy melding science and art, you'll be enthralled by this book!
I'm a gardener and a reader of mysteries, so I was aware of some of the pants in this book...hemlock, oleander and henbane. I live in Texas so I'm aware of the invasive property of kudzu. Interestingly enough, tobacco is included!
The illustrations beg for a colored pencil or marker and the face pages share facts that you're able to ruminate over as you color. If you eat the flesh of the suicide tree it can stop your heart within 3-6 hours. A poison derived from ratbane is known as the 'poison that keelson killing.' Ergot can be traced to the Salem Witch Trials.
If you enjoy melding science and art, you'll be enthralled by this book!
October 5, 2016
While the botanical illustrations are great in themselves, they are even better when we add color!
Be realistic, or go nuts with color- both work great.
After coloring, the illustrations can be removed and framed... but the reverse side will have the info for the next plant in the book, not for the one you've carefully colored. That's the only weakness in the book, and NOT a problem if you leave the book intact.
Lots of fun!
Be realistic, or go nuts with color- both work great.
After coloring, the illustrations can be removed and framed... but the reverse side will have the info for the next plant in the book, not for the one you've carefully colored. That's the only weakness in the book, and NOT a problem if you leave the book intact.
Lots of fun!
December 5, 2017
Darkly humorous, informative adult coloring book. It might just save your life!
August 20, 2018
I already have the audio, and this would be a marvelous adjunct, but I bought it for my sister who is a gardening nut and also reads cookbooks for fun. I did enjoy reading this and its interesting format with appropriate information and tidbits, but not nearly as much as she will!
August 15, 2024
Thoughts about the Book
A creative companion to Amy Stewart’s botanical encyclopedia. This coloring book takes the villains of the garden and turns them into a Gothic, interactive experience. Each of the 40 plants comes with its own rap sheet, such as White Snakeroot, which killed Abraham Lincoln’s mother, or the lethal Rosary Pea and an illustration you can color in.
Also reviewed at WP
A creative companion to Amy Stewart’s botanical encyclopedia. This coloring book takes the villains of the garden and turns them into a Gothic, interactive experience. Each of the 40 plants comes with its own rap sheet, such as White Snakeroot, which killed Abraham Lincoln’s mother, or the lethal Rosary Pea and an illustration you can color in.
Also reviewed at WP
August 19, 2016
Just got this in the mail, from winning it on Goodreads first reads giveaways. It's cool, I'll enjoy doing it. But my only complaint is some of the designs aren't going to be much to color, miniscule leaves with thick black inked lining etc. But the idea of the book is cool. If I was looking through it in the store to buy I'm not sure I would spend money on it with there really overall not being that much to work on like others I have. But I'm thankful for winning, I'll still enjoy using it.
September 5, 2016
It isn't the most exciting coloring book ever, but a lot of thought went into it! Alongside each plant drawing, there is a description of the plant, and at the end, there is also space for you to add your own drawings. I am excited to begin coloring.
Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
September 5, 2016
I won this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. This coloring book is so unique and has an interesting theme. Each page has a picture of a "wicked" plant to color along with a description that identifies it as deadly, intoxicating, illegal, etc. It adds an element of fun to be able to learn about the plant while coloring. I am happy to add this to my coloring book collection!
October 14, 2016
Clever and fun idea. Great illustrations. Giving the coloring book for a holiday gift!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews