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Ruth Heller
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The Reason for a Flower: A Book About Flowers, Pollen, and Seeds (Explore!) Paperback – Picture Book, February 15, 1999

by Ruth Heller (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 215 ratings
See all formats and editions
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“[An] extravagantly beautiful creation. It is unusual in its ingenious way of teaching botany and interesting words to the littlest of readers.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Ms. Heller’s colors and drawings are as electrifying as ever.”
—Los Angeles Times

The reason for a flower is to manufacture seeds, but Ruth Heller shares a lot more about parts of plants and their functions in her trademark rhythmic style.
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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    5 - 8 years
  2. Print length
    48 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Kindergarten - 3
  5. Lexile measure
    NP
  6. Dimensions
    8.75 x 0.16 x 9.25 inches
  7. Publisher
    Puffin Books
  8. Publication date
    February 15, 1999
  9. ISBN-10
    9780698115590
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0698115590
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

After receiving a fine arts degree from the University of California at Berkeley and completing two years of graduate work in design at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, Ruth Heller (1923-2004) began her career designing wrapping paper, cocktail napkins, greeting cards, and coloring books. After five years of rejection and one complete revision, Heller's first book, Chickens Aren't the Only Ones, about egg-laying animals, was published in 1981. It was so successful that the sequel, and second book to be published, Animals Born Alive And Well (1982), about mammals, quickly followed. In 1983 and 1984, her third and fourth titles, The Reason For A Flower (about plants that have seeds and flowers) and Plants That Never Ever Bloom (about plants that do not) were published.

She then began work on a collection of six books, the How To Hide series on camouflage and the magic of this phenomenon in nature, which covered the entire animal kingdom -- insects, birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and sea creatures. The next collection of books became a five-volume series on parts of speech: A Cache of Jewels and Other Collective Nouns; Kites Sail High: A Book About Verbs; Many Luscious Lollipops: A Book About Adjectives; Merry-Go-Round: A Book About Nouns; and Up, Up and Away: A Book About Adverbs. She also wrote and illustrated the unique and fascinating book Color, a charming and instructive guide to how art goes through the four color printing process.

Among the notable people who have had an influence on Heller's writing have been: Ogden Nash, Gilbert and Sullivan, Edward Lear, Hilaire Belloc, and Dr. Seuss. Heller says of her work, "All my books are nonfiction picture books in rhyme. I find writing in rhyme enjoyable and challenging, and I think it is an easy way for children to learn new facts and acquire a sophisticated vocabulary. Children are not intimidated by big words. I try to make my writing succinct and allow the illustrations to convey as much information as possible."

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0698115597
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Puffin Books; Reissue edition (February 15, 1999)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 48 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780698115590
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0698115590
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 5 - 8 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ NP
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Kindergarten - 3
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.75 x 0.16 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 215 ratings

About the author

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Ruth Heller

Ruth Heller

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"Writing and illustrating my own books have given me the opportunity to choose subjects of interest to me."--Ruth HellerAfter receiving a fine arts degree from the University of California at Berkeley and completing two years of graduate work in design at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, Ruth Heller began her career designing wrapping paper, cocktail napkins, greeting cards, and coloring books. After five years of rejection and one complete revision, Heller's first book, Chickens Aren't the Only Ones, about egg-laying animals, was published in 1981. It was so successful that the sequel, and second book to be published, Animals Born Alive And Well (1982), about mammals, quickly followed. In 1983 and 1984, her third and fourth titles, The Reason For A Flower (about plants that have seeds and flowers) and Plants That Never Ever Bloom (about plants that do not) were published.She then began work on a collection of six books, the How To Hide series on camouflage and the magic of this phenomenon in nature, which covered the entire animal kingdom -- insects, birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and sea creatures. The next collection of books became a five-volume series on parts of speech: A Cache of Jewels and Other Collective Nouns; Kites Sail High: A Book About Verbs; Many Luscious Lollipops: A Book About Adjectives; Merry-Go- Round: A Book About Nouns; and Up, Up and Away: A Book About Adverbs. She also wrote and illustrated the unique and fascinating book Color, a charming and instructive guide to how art goes through the four color printing process.Among the notable people who have had an influence on Heller's writing have been: Ogden Nash, Gilbert and Sullivan, Edward Lear, Hilaire Belloc, and Dr. Seuss. Heller says of her work, "All my books are nonfiction picture books in rhyme. I find writing in rhyme enjoyable and challenging, and I think it is an easy way for children to learn new facts and acquire a sophisticated vocabulary. Children are not intimidated by big words. I try to make my writing succinct and allow the illustrations to convey as much information as possible."On October 31, 1995, Grosset & Dunlap continues Heller's parts-of-speech books with the publication of Behind the Mask: A Book About Prepositions, a clever, thoughtful, eye-pleasing explanation of just how prepositions tell us about the "when" and "where" of things.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
215 global ratings
Good for Kindergarten - 2nd
4 Stars
Good for Kindergarten - 2nd
First, the thinness of the pages bothers me. This is meant as a reference book for many kids to peruse and learn from but it’s not durable. But the pages are high quality vivid color and glossy. The illustrations are gorgeous and there are many different categories of flowers presented.One other small disappointment is that I find it verbose and using words that many little kids don’t know (such as “manufacture”) and will never need to know (“the ancient Grecian term, angiosperm”). But the material is not too advanced and chunked up just right for K-2.
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Top reviews from the United States

Mimi
5.0 out of 5 stars Firm Binding, 9"x9 1/2", Gorgeous Illustrations!
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is a really beautiful book for teaching young children (and maybe their urban parents, too) exactly what the title promises and a little bit more about how the natural world and ecosystems function together. Plenty of good, basic information, though not so much as to overwhelm, presented through easy text and stunning illustrations.
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Kenzo Toga
5.0 out of 5 stars A classic!
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2016
Verified Purchase
This is a classic. Illustrations that are clean and captivating; a text that meanders in and out of rhyme, subtly all add up to a great learning book. The illustrations accurately depict the plants, animals and insects so that they are clearly recognizable. The text has a cadence to it, even if it doesn't always rhyme that helps move the story forward. This book is one of a series of three- they are all great. As a former preschool director, I found these books were enjoyed by both our youngest and our oldest children, and were definitely part of our curriculum - this one for springtime, especially. The reason for a flower? To propagate plants, clearly... but, as the illustrations show, also to enjoy!
8 people found this helpful
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Freddieroja
5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful book, fun pictures, poetic rhythm
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2020
Verified Purchase
Fanciful pictures are used to illustrate this fun book discussing flowers. The poetic rhythm and cadence allows for the inclusion of some scientific terms in a natural and fun way which is not intimidating, but allows for children to learn interesting facts from which to build knowledge.
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Vivien
5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo!
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2021
Verified Purchase
Ruth Heller provides science facts via beautiful illustrations and alliterative prose. All of her books are essential for young science learners.
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Trenton M.
5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Book
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2016
Verified Purchase
I bought my first copy of this book many years ago and saw how the children enjoyed it...both looking at the pictures and having it read to them... So I wanted this copy for a gift so another child will have the opportunity to enjoy the story and the nice illustrations....
One person found this helpful
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Marguerite
5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2019
Verified Purchase
This book is every bit as enchanting as the other books in the series. Illustrations-beautiful, verse-memorable and informative
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judy Keene
5.0 out of 5 stars A favorite for little kids.
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2013
Verified Purchase
I've bought this many times: 1st for myself, because rhymes, illustrations so much fun! All her books great for 5 or 6 and under.
A good new baby book to be read to later, because I consider her books classics! Really teach, also! Plus I love flowers, so
the Moms know why I gave it to them.
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Sherri L. Ward
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful fun education
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2013
Verified Purchase
One of many Ruth Hellers books. This is so great! The pictures are amazing. The book holds their attention and keeps them interested. A fantastic teaching tool. Awesome bedtime reading. Wonderfully helpful for explaining flowers and plants.
I highly recommend this book and all her books for that matter.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and informative. Loved it!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 18, 2019
Verified Purchase
Beautiful illustrations, wonderful informative book.
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Client d'Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars nice book
Reviewed in Canada on May 10, 2017
Verified Purchase
the book was very detailed in pictures and great for earth day nice book to read and you can make up the story as you go.
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roberto
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 22, 2016
Verified Purchase
This was gift to boy interested in why bees like flowers
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