Huh? Talking Plants: Read-Aloud, Q&A, and Book Signing with Author Joyce Markovics

Join Joyce for a read-aloud, Q&A, and book signing that will take young readers (ages 5-12) on a fascinating–and giggle-inducing–journey into the exciting world of plant communication.

About the book

You might think of plants as the green silent type. But new discoveries are turning that idea upside down. Science shows that plants can sense—and make their own—sounds! Plants also communicate in other surprising ways. Did you know that some plants make noises when they’re stressed? Others can “hear” caterpillars munching on their leaves or bees buzzing nearby! This book takes young readers on a fascinating–and giggle-inducing–journey into the new and exciting world of plant communication. Along the way, they’ll get to know experts in the field, learn some cutting-edge science, and conduct their own “talking plant” experiment.

About Joyce

Joyce Markovics writes children’s nonfiction books on topics ranging from killer plants and space junk to protest marches and Black filmmakers. She is passionate about telling stories that captivate and inspire young readers. Joyce has published more than 500 titles and has received starred reviews from Booklist as well as awards from the National Science Teaching Association. Several of her books have also been chosen as Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections.

"Who am I? I clean old gravestones, collect stuff, and volunteer at an animal sanctuary. But most of my time is spent writing. I’ve authored at least two giraffe-sized stacks of children’s nonfiction books (more than 500!), most recently through Bowerbird Books, a content development company I started during the pandemic. I gravitate towards offbeat topics and seldom-told stories. I began my twenty-year publishing career as an editor. What’s important to me is getting to the bloody core of something and extracting its pith. Since I was a kid, stories have helped me make sense of the world. As a sixth grader, I rewrote an excerpt of Beowulf from a feminist perspective and called it Beowulfia. The principal asked me to read excerpts over the loudspeaker, which didn’t help my social life. Neither did my obsession with praying mantises and wearing seersucker suits to school. Truth be told, my social life has improved, but not much else has changed. One blindingly bright spot: I met and married the best person I know, and we live together in a historic home in Ossining, NY."