"At last, I am bound for the wilderness."
Of John Bartram's nine children, it was William who best loved nature and wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. William Bartram dreamed of accompanying his father as he explored the wilderness of colonial America in search of plant specimens.
In the form of journal excerpts, Deborah Kogan Ray tells the captivating story of Billy Bartram's development as a botanist under his father's tutelage, until he is able to strike out on his own, ultimately securing his place in history as America's first botanical artist.
awards and reviews
The Horn Book: "More than a portrait of two notable Americans, The Flower Hunter depicts exemplary nurturing of a child's talent and is both an introduction to the basics of botany and a revealing window into the past."
The Flower Hunter has been chosen as a 2005 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12. This annotated bibliography is a cooperative project of the National Science Teachers Association and the Children's Book Council. The book has been chosen as a "Selector's Choice", meaning that it was a book to which the reviewers responded with particular enthusiasm.
illustrations from the book
click on thumbnail to see larger image
