January Beautiful Books

for Teens and Adults

Marianne North: A Victorian Painter for the 21st Century

Lynne Howarth Gladston

Kew Royal Botanical Gardens

Marianne North was a painter, global traveller, plant finder and diarist. She made a significant contribution to science and botany, known not only for her paintings, but for her travel and writing. The self-funded, Marianne North Gallery at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew was built in 1881, and is still open to the public today, showing over 800 of North’s paintings.

This wonderfully informative book, takes us on a journey through North’s life, from her childhood to her her travels as a botanical painter, her creation of the Marianne North Gallery at Kew, and her legacy of paintings.

North’s rich artwork depicts an abundance of flora and fauna in vibrant colours and well designed arrangements. The scenes and still life paintings are breathtakingly beautiful, at a time when travel was an option available to few, these paintings must have been seen as a portal to another world, a view into the garden of Eden. Fantastical plants such as the Pitcher Plant, tropical orchids from Brazil and hummingbirds sipping nectar must have brought sights to London that had been seen by few. Even with our well travelled eyes, North’s paintings are a beauty to behold, her use of colour, shape and composition is exceptional. Paintings such as Armed Bird’s Nest in Acacia Bush, Chili, shows a bird perched next to her nest, barbed thorns protect her nest from intruders, contrasting her soft feathers whilst bright yellow sprigs of flowers burst from bare twigs against a pale, smoky blue mountain. This painting makes a striking image with both the bird a the bush bringing forth new life.

A very well put together book, with fascinating text and plenty of full page illustrations of North’s work alongside some examples of her contemporaries work and work of those who had influenced her. The perfect book for lovers of art, horticulture and nature. A book that needs to be followed by a visit to the Marianne North Gallery at Kew!

Floral Folklore: The Forgotten Tales Behind Nature’s Most Enchanting Plants

Alison Davies, SarahWilding

Leaping Hare

Divided into the four seasons, this beautifully illustrated book takes us on a folklore journey through 43 wildflower species. This is a beautiful book to look through, clearly laid out with colourful pages and eye-catching full page illustrations with information about each wildflower featured. The information includes facts such as the botanical name, the flower meaning, the folklore origin and then an interesting double page for each about the legend or folklore associated with that flower. At the end of each flower’s section there’s a paragraph and some bullet points suggesting some activities that promote mindfulness, positivity and reconnecting to nature. There are some really nice ideas for relaxation and simple meditation.

The Stories are fascinating, we learn about the Nepalese story of the Rhododendron and how this flower became a symbol of commitment in love. Scandinavia brings us the folklore of Lady’s bedstraw and how the plant is put into mattresses to ensure a safe childbirth. Valerian is featured in a German folktale of a pied piper.

The illustrations are a wonderful addition to the book, full page and often on a black background, they are luminous and very pleasing to look through. The illustrations often feature something from the story, the Valerian illustration features a tiny sleeping rodent with it’s pink tail curled around their body and pink valerian flowers arranged in symmetry around. The Cowslip illustration features the key to heaven and some circling damsel flies.

This is a fascinating and beautiful book, the combination of the wildflower, the folklore and the mindfulness activities make it a very unique read, that has great appeal to those how love wild flowers, folklore and reconnecting to nature.

The Kew Gardens Cookbook: A Celebration of Plants In The Kitchen

Edited by Jenny Linford

Kew Royal Botanical Gardens

With beautiful photography of Kew gardens, this celebration of plants in the kitchen, showcases some of the seasonal vegetables grown at Kew. Leading chefs and food writers have contributed some exceptional recipes.

Divided into six sections, Herbs and Spices, Grains and Pulses, Roots, Squashes and Tubers, Fungi, and Fruit and Nuts, this book has a wide collection of recipes ranging from a good selection of easy everyday food to something extra special. The photography is stunning and the recipes are accompanied with interesting information and some very attractive botanical drawings.

The recipes included are completely original and have made the vegetable the star, there are so many interesting textures and flavours, Karachi spiced lentil and potato bun kebabs, Yam and plantain peanut curry, braised portobello mushrooms with judion beans and chimichurri, so many exciting flavours and combinations to try.

This is a beautiful book for anyone who loves cooking but especially wonderful for those who love vegetables and a must have for anyone with a vegetable garden.

Just Add Nature

Rebecca Frank

National Trust

We all know nature is good for us and has many health benefits, but often, our busy lives means we don’t always get as much outdoor time as we need. This beautifully uplifting book looks at small ways we can improve our health and well being, whether we have access to the countryside or whether we live in a city.

There are 5 chapters; Getting Closer to Nature, Nature as Therapy, Urban Nature, Nature Activism, and Nature and Creativity all with lovely water colour illustrations and many smaller topics covered within each section. This format makes it readable from start to finish or great to use as a book to dip in and out of.

Just Add Nature is full of ideas to help our well being and our environment. Ideas for activities, suggestions for getting closer to nature, ways to help to the environment, and ways to relax.

The ideas for mindfulness, switching off from worries and technology and appreciating the world around us are valuable, sometimes simple ideas can make a big difference. The practical advice about changes you can make are ideal for anyone feeling that something is missing in their day to day lives. A perfect book for getting through grey January days!

The Official Veganuary Cookbook

Harper Collins

We all know that eating less animal products is good for the planet, our health and animal suffering but it can be hard to make the change and know how to replace ingredients that we are used to using.

This book has some wonderful ideas to try, there are ideas for snacks and light lunches, main meals, special treats and some really indulgent desserts. There really is something to suit everyone, hearty traditional dinners such as Mushroom Wellington or ‘Beef’ and Ale Pie, fragrant Thai and Cambodian curries, quick lunches such as the Chickpea ‘Tuna’ Melt, food for cold weather such as the comforting Red Dragon Pie and a range of deserts that you wouldn’t imagine are dairy free; Banoffee Pie, Chocolate Orange Oreo Cheesecake and Caramelised Apple Upside Down Cake to name but a few.

The recipes included are easy to follow with clear instructions and mouth-watering photography. This collection does an excellent job of finding a dish for every occasion, with lots of different styles, flavours an textures.

This beautiful cookbook is ideal for anyone looking to make a change with their diet and try something delicious and new. Perfect for those wanting to cut back or those wanting to give Veganuary a go!

Jams with a Twist: Deliciously different recipes for sweet surprises

Kylee Newton

The National Trust

Jams with a Twist has some wonderfully inventive ideas and delicious flavour combinations. Taking traditional favourites such as Blackberry Jam and adding rosemary, making interesting combinations such as Blackcurrant and Orange Jelly or ideas for something completely new such as Vermouth Poached Pear Jam. There are plenty of ideas for using foraged ingredients such as Rosehip and Nasturtium Jelly or Crab Apple and Chilli Jelly and a section on jelly floats and layered effects.

This has some very useful information included for the novice, as well as having many exciting ideas for the expert jam maker to try!

A wonderful book for anyone who loves to make the most out of their own home grown produce or for those who love foraging. The book has some lovely illustrations which makes the book very enjoyable to look through. A book to read in winter that makes you dream of summer!

Ten Poems about Snowdrops

Candlestick Press

Instead of a card is an ingenious idea, a beautifully presented pamphlet of ten poems and a beautiful cover by contemporary artist Alexandra Buckle. The snowdrop is the perfect symbol for the start of the year, new beginnings and new life.

These ten poems by poets such as Wordsworth, Mary Webb, Tennyson, Diana Hendry and others, all speak of this small, shy woodland flower, that brings us hope in the bleakest days of winter.

Ten Poems about Snowdrops is printed in the UK, on very good quality, FCS accredited paper. The pamphlet comes with an envelope, and a bookmark is included for you to write your message on. The cellophane packet is also biodegradable and compostable, making this a very eco friendly purchase. This is a beautiful alternative to card, one that feels some thought has gone into the choosing, and one that can be kept and enjoyed again. Each sale gives a donation to Snowdrop Project.

A Treasury of British Folklore: Mandrakes & Mistletoe

Dee Dee Chainey

National trust

Drawing from a range of folklore, customs and stories, Dee Dee Chainey has created a fascinating read, steeped in history and centuries old traditions. Divided into three parts; Of the Land, Plants and Animals, Witchcraft, Magicand Heroic Tales, and The Milestones of life, this book has a wealth of fascinating stories from villages and communities from across the British Isles.

The linocut illustrations suit this book well, and the stories are fascinating, we read about the famous Black Shuck of East Anglia, midsummer rituals and ghost stories and hauntings. The folk customs help us see the year through the eyes of our ancestors, the need to celebrate, to get through the winter days, the hope for a good harvest and the celebration of new life. Reading about these rituals helps us step into the past, many are still celebrated today and make for fascinating reading. Many of these characters, selkies, humming bees, vengeful beasts, white stags and goblins, you will recognise from literature, stories passed down from generation to generation have found new life in our books and have become part of our history, hearing the origins of these wonderful tales makes for an absorbing and educational read.

Eat the Rainbow

Harriet Porterfield

Leaping Hare Press

Eat the Rainbow has the most vibrant, pretty and colourful collection of recipes! Apart from having good ingredients and colourful fruit and vegetables, the recipes have been created to make the food look very attractive. Vibrant yellow Sunshine heart tarts and Pretty puffed apple roses look almost too pretty to eat, so much care and attention has been put into making the food look wonderful as well as taste great.

The Roasted rainbow vegetable traybake is spectacularly beautiful, a simple but very clever idea. The No-bake berry chocolate tart has wonderfully matched flavours and looks like a work of art. The dips and salad bowl section has some wonderful combinations and interesting flavours.

The collection contains breakfast ideas, brunches and mains, salads and sides, desserts, cakes and bakes, colourful ideas for kids and everyday essentials. There are some inventive ideas and good range of recipes for every occasion. This is a perfect book for anyone wanting to get more fruit and vegetables into their lives!