Introducing little ones to nature through reading is an extraordinary choice—a stimulating challenge that sparks their curiosity, teaches them about the rhythms and value of the natural world, and fosters a deep environmental awareness. It is a playful journey, rooted in sensory experience and the wonder of discovery.
Books that succeed in turning the discovery of the plant world into an exciting journey—one to be savoured across beautifully illustrated pages, and which combine visual wonder with scientific rigor in a playful way—are the ideal tools for transforming curiosity into a love for the environment.
Publisher: L’Ippocampo, 2025 (Italian version)
Format: 19.5 x 35.5 cm| Pages: 9 double pages, illustrated, hardback,
Hardcover with cloth spine
EAN:9791256730568 | Reading age: 7-10 years
Di seme in frutto. Il mondo vegetale da vicino (French version “Voir et savoir: Dans l’intimité du monde végétal) is the book for us..
This is a documentary book, written and illustrated by Fanny Pageaud, that transforms botany into an interactive and educational adventure for children—a journey blending science and poetry, designed to inspire wonder and reveal the secrets of nature.
The graphic design is striking in its originality. Featuring an uncommon vertical format (19.5 x 35.5 cm) and the sophisticated typography that has long defined the publishing house, this work offers an authentic, immersive journey into nature’s most captivating secrets.
The nine double-page, the-board spreads are beautifully illustrated, with images that highlight every aspect in great detail—all while maintaining scientific rigor and introducing scientific names and technical terms with complete naturalness. Using simple language, the book invites readers to take a close look at flowers, fruits, seeds, buds, and leaves, transforming botany into a fascinating and accessible narrative—a journey that unveils the secrets behind the forms and strategies plants use to live, grow, and reproduce.
Every botanical element is illustrated and described with scientific clarity and a sense of genuine wonder.
The interactive aspect is very well executed; the double-page spreads are enhanced by large fold-out sections that reveal landscapes or intricate, branching structures in the background, while numerous flaps and small windows—meant to be lifted—invite the reader to discover what truly lies inside a bud, beneath a leaf, or at the heart of a shell. The meticulous attention to graphic detail—to the point where the images feel almost tactile—makes for a truly immersive experience.
All of this transforms reading into an engaging game of discovery—a true field investigation—and a sensory experience capable of awakening a child’s innate curiosity alongside a genuine sense of wonder in adults, inviting everyone to view the natural world with fresh eyes.
“Di seme in frutto” goes well beyond a simple educational resource: it is a small publishing masterpiece that masterfully combines scientific rigor, artistic expression, and poetry.
Thanks to these features, it is ideal for shared reading from a very early age. However, it is especially well-suited for children between 7 and 10, who can independently explore both the interactive elements and the fascinating scientific concepts. It serves as a wonderful resource for anyone looking to introduce young minds to science in a way that is both playful and educational.
If you are a member of EARTH GARDENERS APS, you can purchase this book with a 5% discount at the “Messaggerie Sarde” bookstore in Sassari (Italy), located at Piazza Castello 11. If you don’t have your 2026 membership card yet, you can pick it up at the bookstore when you go to make your purchase!
Credits
Maria Beatrice Lupi is a naturalist and an expert in training, sustainable development planning, participatory methodologies, and European planning. She is currently engaged in dissemination and education for sustainability.
Translated by Maria Antonietta Sessa
