Title: Honeysuckle Hugs: A Blend of Botanical Poetry
Author: Libby Piper
Illustrator: Renée Fox
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-5320-5502-7
Genre: Poetry, Art
Pages: 36
Reviewed by: Barbara Miller
Pacific Book Review
As beautiful as a bouquet of flowers brought as a gift in springtime, Honeysuckle Hugs: A Blend of Botanical Poetry will enchant readers with the glorious attributes of so many lovely gifts of Mother Nature. Author Libby Piper along with her illustrator Renée Fox have created a cornucopia of plant based pictures and prose, artfully displayed to make paging Honeysuckle Hugs into a reading experience like walking through a field of wild flowers in a mountain valley in May. Blooming each page with rhymes and fascinating facts, readers are carried into the realm of visual imagination, grounded in the soil of Mother Nature’s goodness.
The book focuses on seven different species of plants, and with the introspection of a botanist and interpreted into words by Libby Piper’s poetic prose, the book pages with such an appreciation of the gifts from nature which will identify, educate and aspire young minds into understanding the variety of abundance provided for people to enjoy. Honeysuckle is the first to be featured with the words, “Soft, pale petals, drops of dew— sweetness of life born in the heart of you.” This sets the tone of the poetry, as beautiful illustrations commence to carry forth the softness and detail of these remarkable plants. Red Raspberries, Dandelions, Spearmint, Sage, Lavender and the Weeping Willow Tree complete the group of plants, each of course, being praised for their inherent qualities. I particularly liked the “Weeping Willow Tree” when Libby Piper wrote, “Weeping tears of joyful glee, watching your wondrous life to be” making the tears of sadness become tears of joy!
This book morphs into a type of cookbook at the end with “Recipe for Honeysuckle Hugs Tea for Two.” Then a summary of each of the gifts of the plants complete this unique and insightful book. A true gift for all home libraries due to the appeal it will have to all who are fortunate to read Honeysuckle Hugs: A Blend of Botanical Poetry. The best part readers do not have to water the book, as it will stay fresh for many generations of children to enjoy. Mother Nature has given us many gifts, and the poetry of Libby Piper helps bring it to our attention in a beautiful way.
