Why I Wrote a Botany Book for Kids Like Mine

When I first went looking for a botany curriculum, I was hopeful. I thought I’d find something engaging and hands-on, something my son would connect with. But instead, I found books full of dense vocabulary, overly technical explanations, and lifeless diagrams you couldn’t really do anything with.

Some felt too young — just coloring pages, matching games, or busywork. Others were so packed with unfamiliar words that my son couldn’t stay with it long enough to actually learn. I needed something visual, something interactive, something that would slow down enough to make sense but still move deeply into the topic.

Eventually, I realized: I was going to have to make it myself.

As both an artist and a teacher, I started thinking about how I would have loved to learn science. I imagined a book that was beautiful, sensory, and artistic — but also meaningful and educational. Something that showed how plants work, not just told.

Introduction: An Introduction To Botany Lesson

So I built a book that flows like the growth of a plant — starting from seeds and roots, moving all the way up through stems, leaves, and flowers, then exploring how plants reproduce and adapt. Along the way, students aren’t just reading about it — they’re drawing it, observing it, testing it, thinking about it.

Let's Do School: Botany Book Flip-Through

Parts of a Seed: A Lesson on Monocot Maize / Corn Seed Parts

We used simple materials from around the house. Beans and pumpkin seeds. Paper towels, jars, a little soil. You don’t need a lab or a perfect backyard. You just need a bit of curiosity and a place to begin.

I included activities I knew my son would enjoy: drawing plant diagrams, labeling in color, making observations, writing creatively, answering big-picture questions that encourage deeper thinking. There’s even a flexible high school extension for families who want to use it for credit — with options for guided research and independent projects depending on your child’s strengths.

Pine Cones: Draw Each Step of Pollination

Best of all, like all of my books, it works for mixed ages. Some moms use it with a 5th grader and a 10th grader at the same time — each taking on the activities in their own way. Others just let their child do a page or two a day, keeping it low-stress and gentle.

It’s the kind of science I wish I’d had. Thoughtful. Visual. Creative.

And most importantly, it makes sense to kids like mine.

💚— From one homeschool mom to another