PLANTZILLA

Plantzilla

Written by: Jerdine Nolen

Illustrated by: David Catrow

Published by: HMH Books, 2005

32 Pages

Science Fiction

   Mortimer loves the class plant so much that he wants to take it home to care for over the summer. In a hilarious exchange of letters, Mortimer's decision is beginning to unfold as a mistake. With the mysterious disappearance of various foods, and even his mom's chihuahua, what will happen to the culprit? Will Plantzilla overstep his welcoming or be welcomed as a part of the family?
   Catrow is an award-winning cartoonist and writer of children's literature. His watercolor paintings in Plantzilla speak volumes about his work. The illustrations are humorous, enjoyable, and highlight intriguing details that readers cannot overlook. The letters on which the story is written can be tricky, especially for young or struggling readers due to the different fonts. In a younger classroom, this book would be best if read-aloud.

   This book would be an amusing way to introduce the following Science standard:

9 ) Examine evidence to support an argument that the internal and external structures of plants (e.g., thorns, leaves, stems, roots, colored petals, xylem, phloem) and animals (e.g., heart, stomach, lung, brain, skin) function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.

By introducing carnivorous plants, students can compare and contrast the parts of carnivorous and non-carnivorous plants and relate it to parts of an animal. Having a Venus Fly Trap and a regular plant, such as a sunflower, is a must in order to provide a visual of how the two plants "eat and drink".