‘The Poison Diaries’ is a book for children- and adults. The
story is short- an abusive apothecary takes on a young boy named Weed as an
assistant and puts him in charge of the poison garden- but it works as a fairy
tale, has a moral, and is an emotional story. It’s the illustrations that are
so marvelous, along with information on the poisonous plants that’s included.
As Weed tends the poison garden, the plants take turns speaking to him, telling
him their tales and their medicinal and toxic uses- and their hatred of the
apothecary. It’s a dark tale, and the illustrations are dark, too- even the brightest
pages have a pale gray wash on them.
Some reviewers have said that they didn’t think this would
be a good book for children, but I know I would have loved this book when I was
in elementary school, and I know a lot of others who would feel that way. It’s
in the same vein as many of the tales in the various books of fairy tales; they
get pretty bloody and grim and kids love them.
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I'd like this one if just to see those illustrations.
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