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Plantzilla
Plantzilla
Mortimer Henryson loves Plantzilla, the plant he's been taking care of all year in his third-grade classroom. He loves him so much, he takes him home for summer vacation. What could go wrong with a . . . plant? But life in the Henryson household soon takes a strange turn. A pot roast disappears, then steaks from the grill--and where has Mrs. Henryson's prize Chihuahua gone?
In this hilarious story told ingeniously through letters, Jerdine Nolen and David Catrow team up to show that when there's enough love, even the most unlikely character can become part of a family.
In this hilarious story told ingeniously through letters, Jerdine Nolen and David Catrow team up to show that when there's enough love, even the most unlikely character can become part of a family.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
3 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
June 6, 2011
I'll admit that the premise is a bit absurd, but the story is fun and all done in letter-form which can be equally interesting. The illustrations really carried the book for me. I enjoyed the extra content that examining each page offered. In addition to the text, there was a entire sub-plot on every page. David Catrow always does great work like that. This was a very funny, enjoyable story.
January 16, 2021
One more JMG kids book
July 20, 2009
Mortimer has been taking care of a plant at school the students have dubbed "plantzilla." He wants to be the one to adopt it for the summer and take care of it. It all works out, but then Plantzilla starts eating strange things - like meat. then the problems start. Told in a series of letters between Mortimer's house and his teacher. David Catrow did the illustrations and signed my book "i hope the book grows on you." It did and it will continue to do so.
July 6, 2016
David Catrow is my favorite illustrator. He takes even the most mundane books and makes them awesome with his funny and colorful illustrations. This book of letters about the keeping of a peculiar plant over the summer is made by the illustrations.
April 23, 2018
When Mortimer comes home for the summer and requests to take care of a very special plant named Plantzilla, strange things start happening around the household. Their beloved puppy disappears, and Plantzilla keeps growing and gaining an appetite for meat! Mortimer loves Plantzilla, and is determined to keep him. Through a series of letters between Mortimer, his parents, and his science teacher, the mystery of Plantzilla is solved, and the family gains a new, leafy member.
This book is fantastically funny, wiith engaging characters and dynamic illustrations. In the classroom it could be used in a lesson about stories told through different medias, like letters. Students could then create their own story through letters. This could also lead into a lesson on the venus fly trap and other carnivorous plants, which resemble Plantzilla.
This book is fantastically funny, wiith engaging characters and dynamic illustrations. In the classroom it could be used in a lesson about stories told through different medias, like letters. Students could then create their own story through letters. This could also lead into a lesson on the venus fly trap and other carnivorous plants, which resemble Plantzilla.
September 27, 2019
My daughter says: “it was a good book! It was funny!” She loved the illustrations, but pointed out that the dog had teats on the back page. Then she went through the entire book and gleefully yelled “nipples” every time she saw the dog. Did anyone else notice this? Did I miss something in the book? 🤔 🐕🙂🤪
September 1, 2017
A very entertaining book about mutant plants; this one is suited for grades 3-6, as several pages are written in cursive.
Unique feature: The plant is sentient.
Genre: Fantasy (Real genre: Horror/Humor)
Unique feature: The plant is sentient.
Genre: Fantasy (Real genre: Horror/Humor)
May 29, 2018
Such a great book about a carnivorous plant....the dog doesn't get eaten!
June 21, 2020
My 7 year old really enjoyed this book. It's a bit long but has a fun twist at the end.
June 22, 2021
This book is kind of weird honestly. Very imaginative but just kind of strange. It is written in a series of letters and the illustrations are beautiful! The story is just strange.
March 8, 2022
As much as I enjoy this epistolary, it will be inaccessible to many because a great deal of it is in cursive.
June 12, 2023
A little too advanced for Harper, but I enjoyed it. Will revisit in a couple years.
October 12, 2020
C didn't like all the cursive but got through it.
I loved it.
I loved it.
August 25, 2016
This book is wonderful! I wish it came out when I was a child! The greatest thing is that the book is written entirely in corresponding letters. There are three rotating characters:child, teacher, and parents. The writing of the letters change depending upon who is writing. I love that the writing matches the characters.
This book is a great opportunity to teach letter writing in the classroom, as well as formal correspondence. Due to the influx of technology, letter writing is really not taught as much in the classroom.
This book is also a good opportunity to discuss dialogue and conversation. I would recommend it as a read aloud. It should bring good retellings from students because it has a smooth flowing storyline.
As far as getting deep into literacy, there is a varying level of vocabulary in the book so it will accommodate different levels of readers. The last letter is written by the plant, and the words are not spelled correctly. The last letter would be a grew out-loud activity to practice phonics!
All in all, the book is great, and it may spark a huge interest of botany in students. Use it in science or reading class.
This book is a great opportunity to teach letter writing in the classroom, as well as formal correspondence. Due to the influx of technology, letter writing is really not taught as much in the classroom.
This book is also a good opportunity to discuss dialogue and conversation. I would recommend it as a read aloud. It should bring good retellings from students because it has a smooth flowing storyline.
As far as getting deep into literacy, there is a varying level of vocabulary in the book so it will accommodate different levels of readers. The last letter is written by the plant, and the words are not spelled correctly. The last letter would be a grew out-loud activity to practice phonics!
All in all, the book is great, and it may spark a huge interest of botany in students. Use it in science or reading class.
September 27, 2012
Think "Little Shop of Horrors" for the picture book set. Plantzilla is cleverly narrated in letters, as a family learns to cope with an enormous, anthropomorphic houseplant that takes over their home. The plant goes from frightening to a member of the family over the course of the tale.
Veg*n families note: Unlike most houseplants, this one boasts a craving for meat, and wrecks havoc at barbecues as its tendrils are shown clutching giant steaks, along with burgers, hot dogs, etc. The text also implies that the plant ate the family's pet dog. The artist in the story seems to soften the blow by later showing the dog popping out of a flower bud, but this is not mentioned in the text. Very young or sensitive children may be bothered by the idea.
Veg*n families note: Unlike most houseplants, this one boasts a craving for meat, and wrecks havoc at barbecues as its tendrils are shown clutching giant steaks, along with burgers, hot dogs, etc. The text also implies that the plant ate the family's pet dog. The artist in the story seems to soften the blow by later showing the dog popping out of a flower bud, but this is not mentioned in the text. Very young or sensitive children may be bothered by the idea.
March 2, 2012
Mortimer Henryson is very fond of Plantzilla, one of the plants in his classroom. When summer is approaching he petitions his teacher for permission to care for Plantzilla at his home. Mr. Lester, the science teacher, agrees. However, Mortimers' family quickly realizes that Plantzilla is not a normal plant, in fact, he eats meat! When the family dog disappears, Mortimer's mother becomes frantic and declares the plant must go. But then Plantzilla finally blooms and settles down. Mortimer is ecstatic when the family and Mr. Lester decide that Plantzilla can be permanently adopted into the Henryson family.
May 29, 2012
Mortimer brings the class plant home for summer vacation. It turns out that Plantzilla is not just any old plant though -- he eats meat, develops a mouth, and shows his unplant-like personality.
The story is told through letters written by Mortimer, Mortimer's mother, and Mortimer's teacher. The letters from Mortmer's mother were most challenging for my students. The cursive handwriting is fairly small and slanted and the vocabulary is much higher than that of third grader Mortimer's.
A great fit for a friendly letter unit, this is a great book for third graders.
The story is told through letters written by Mortimer, Mortimer's mother, and Mortimer's teacher. The letters from Mortmer's mother were most challenging for my students. The cursive handwriting is fairly small and slanted and the vocabulary is much higher than that of third grader Mortimer's.
A great fit for a friendly letter unit, this is a great book for third graders.
September 12, 2012
Plantzilla would be a perfect book for a young student who loves the environment and connecting classroom learning to outdoor activities. The young boy becomes attached to the plant because he felt he was the one who took the most care of it in the classroom and requested to keep in during summer vacation and even with some problems, the family loves having the plant. The fantasy of the book also gives children curiosity and test and to see how they could relate to some of the plants in their homes.
May 1, 2014
This was delightful little book that my granddaughter and I read together. It was the perfect bedtime story. The teacher read this to my granddaughter's class and then my granddaughter brought it home for another read. The story was cute and told in a series of letter to and from the main character, his mother, the teacher, and one other but that would be a spoiler. The illustrations were rich, complex and funny too. I laughed with each page turn. Highly recommend this book to elementary school kids and their parents.
July 17, 2014
A boy and his family send letters back and forth to the boy's science teacher in regards to the plant the boy became attached to during the schoolyear and wishes to care for during the summer.
The plant is capable of many things and for a moment it's even suspected of committing villainous acts in the neighborhood. All ends well, though, with an ending that's wide open for a sequel.
Too lengthy for a read aloud. Zany artwork perfectly captures the tone of the story and makes Plantzilla a pretty lovable character. PreK-2.
The plant is capable of many things and for a moment it's even suspected of committing villainous acts in the neighborhood. All ends well, though, with an ending that's wide open for a sequel.
Too lengthy for a read aloud. Zany artwork perfectly captures the tone of the story and makes Plantzilla a pretty lovable character. PreK-2.
May 17, 2010
I wasn't sure how this book was going to end, because it seemed kind of random and just slightly disturbing. But I was happy to see that things worked out in the end and that nothing drastic happened. I loved the colorful illustrations and the vivid characteristics of the plant. Although, this book was strange, I might recommend.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2010...
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2010...
August 18, 2011
This is a fun story about a "Little Shop of Horrors" kind of plant that is adopted by a family. The story is a series of correspondence between the family and the teacher who gave them the plant. The illustrations are wonderful, as we expected, and the way that the plant overwhelms the family's life is very humorous (especially with the family dog). Overall, it's a hilarious tale, made even funnier by the illustrations. We really enjoyed reading it together.
April 4, 2012
Mortimer Henryson takes the class plant home for the summer. The summer is a great success until a roast beef and the neighbor's dog disappears.
This book would be a great introductory book for talking about plants and their characteristics. It talks about the plant needing sunlight, water and oxygen. Then it explains what cilia is and the metamorphosis that takes place when the plant gets human characteristics.
The age range appropriate for this book is 1st grade-5th grade.
This book would be a great introductory book for talking about plants and their characteristics. It talks about the plant needing sunlight, water and oxygen. Then it explains what cilia is and the metamorphosis that takes place when the plant gets human characteristics.
The age range appropriate for this book is 1st grade-5th grade.
October 29, 2013
Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Awards: None
Grade Level: K-2
This book will be a fun book to read to my students. It will lead me into a discussion about what it takes to keep plants alive and will introduce the concept of writing a friendly letter. For a follow up activity I will have the students write their own letter asking the teacher for the opportunity to keep Plantzilla for the summer. Once they have finished I will ask the students to read their letter to the class.
Awards: None
Grade Level: K-2
This book will be a fun book to read to my students. It will lead me into a discussion about what it takes to keep plants alive and will introduce the concept of writing a friendly letter. For a follow up activity I will have the students write their own letter asking the teacher for the opportunity to keep Plantzilla for the summer. Once they have finished I will ask the students to read their letter to the class.
January 18, 2014
Plantzilla grabs you from the first page and never lets go! I love that the story is told in letter form!
For you young people letters are pieces of paper people actually sit down and take the time to write. Then the letters are addressed and sent off my mail. Not email - real mail.
A wonderful story with whimsical illustrations. This story proves that everyone can have a green thumb as long as they also have a full heart!
For you young people letters are pieces of paper people actually sit down and take the time to write. Then the letters are addressed and sent off my mail. Not email - real mail.
A wonderful story with whimsical illustrations. This story proves that everyone can have a green thumb as long as they also have a full heart!
September 3, 2015
This book could have easily been made into a chapter book. I think the younger children will enjoy the book if their parents read it to them, maybe a couple of pages a night. The story is awesome. You can totally see this kid becoming more and more obsessed with the plant. The plant even wins over the parents affection in the end. The illustrations are really cool. It was a very fun story to read.
July 22, 2009
What an original, humurous and fun story. The illustrations are equally delighful and could add another 5 stars on thier own!!
The book is actually a series of letters written mostly by a child named Mortimer, who greatly desires to take care of Plantzilla during summer vacation.
Plantzilla is not your ordinary plant and Mortimers grand affection for the feisty plant is obvious.
The book is actually a series of letters written mostly by a child named Mortimer, who greatly desires to take care of Plantzilla during summer vacation.
Plantzilla is not your ordinary plant and Mortimers grand affection for the feisty plant is obvious.
February 16, 2010
This is the story of a 3rd grader who takes home Plantzilla to care for it over the summer. The funny story is told through letters exchanged by Mortimer, his mother and his teacher. The illustrations have a lot of details and do a lot to tell the story. This book would work for students between 2nd and 4th grade.
February 24, 2012
Most kids are swimming and playing in the sun during the summer but not Mortimer Henryson he offers to care for the class plant “Plantzilla” for the summer. The story is told by letters sent back in forth from Mortimer and his parents to his teacher. It has wonderful pictures and is a great story about not judging a book or a plant by its cover.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews