What do poppies, foxglove, and lily of the valley
all have in common?
THEY CAN BE DEADLY!
I’m super excited that my latest book will be coming out in May 2027. It’s been a while in the making and a little bit different from all the others I’ve published in the past.
This one is for a slightly older age group (8+) and has a slightly darker subject matter. Not too dark, because it’s about one of my favorite subjects in the world:
(Is it me or does that look like it says Planets?) For those of you who can’t read cursive, curly script, that image says PLANTS!)
Get ready to learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about…
Nature’s Nasties: Weird Science, Epic Histories, and Bizarre Legends of the World’s Deadliest Plants
Whoa, it’s a mouthful!
The cover is gorgeous, but I’ll be revealing it next month when I tell you all about the illustrator as well. (Here’s a sneaky teaser):
IN the meantime, what the heck is Nature’s Nasties all about? Here’s the scoop:
Step into the dangerous, deceptive, and sometimes downright deadly world of plants. From the corpse flower to the zombie fungus, this horticultural A-to-Z for readers aged 8-12 is brimming with bizarre, electrifying, and mind-blowing facts about vegetation that can kill, maim, or simply make life miserable. From the eerie wolfsbane that inspired werewolf legends, to the true facts about the poisonous potatoes in Minecraft, young readers will discover how nature’s most dangerous greenery has shaped history, inspired myths, and sent a shiver up humanity’s spine for centuries.
Yes! Sounds cool, right?
Think plants are boring? No way! Learn all about:
* silent-but-deadly plants, including the monster corpse flower famous for its disgusting stench
* how a poppies were used to make a sleeping potion
* the small and mighty moss that can suck blood
* a fungus that can create zombies
* how “mad honey” from a flower defeated a Roman army
* which of the deadly plants in your favorite video games are real – and just how poisonous they really are
Gross, weird, powerful and always amazing – you’ll never look at plants the same way again.
There are SOOOO many cool facts about poisonous and toxic plants, so keep your eyes peeled for a section of this website dedicated just to extra tidbits I couldn’t fit in the book!
Until then, stay groovy.
JODIE PARACHINI 