Educational and entertaining! This story has beautiful illustrations and discusses a variety of ways in which plants are similar to and different from animals.

"We Can Hear Without Ears: And Other Things You Didn't Know We Plants Could Do" is the book I'd love to see in schools and children's libraries.

Lisa Westberg Peters delights us with a charming text, bringing to light various curiosities about plants that even adults, I'm sure (as was my case), are unaware of – starting with the title itself. Plants don't have ears, and yet they can hear. The book tells us how this happens.

This is a non-fiction children's book, but its narrative, so rightly thought, assumes the plants' perspective, not simply imposing a series of facts in a third person point of view, which could sound more authoritarian and less interactive. Although it's not exactly a dialogue, but still an exposition of facts, the way the text was structured makes the words sound like reveberating from plants to animals – humans included – as an invitation to reflection. Being this a children's book, it makes all the difference - and enjoyable for all ages to read it.

The illustrations, by Danielle Ridolfi, are also a delight. Ridolfi manages to capture the same exuberant and diverse intensity of colors of nature on the pages, focusing children's attention on its many details, while the curiosities brought by Lisa Peters gently settle in the minds of the listeners.

A book that I consider essential in schools, as it allows children to see the world and nature as an extension of themselves. After all, we are all interconnected, and we must take care of our planet. Sometimes, to appreciate the grandeur of life, we need to be enchanted by the small things, those that happen silently, underground, in nature's own rhythm, and the book is a reminder of all this.

A great, science-filled book! A nice dash of humor keeps learners engaged as well as collage type illustrations. Great nonfiction read for elementary learners!

We Can Hear Without Ears is a strong addition to any lower-elementary classroom, especially during units on plants and the natural world. Lisa Westberg Peters offers clear, accessible explanations that invite young readers to explore how plants live, adapt, and communicate in surprising ways.

The book is rich with engaging facts about how plants protect themselves from predators and how they grow. These details spark curiosity without overwhelming early readers, making it a great springboard for classroom discussion or hands-on learning. The illustrations pair naturally with the text, offering visual clarity and helping children connect concepts with real-world examples.

On a personal note, reading this book reminded me of my first science paper on photosynthesis and the sense of delight that comes with discovering how nature works. We Can Hear Without Ears captures that same spirit of wonder and makes it accessible for young learners.

A thoughtful, well-designed resource for the budding scientists in your life.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book for review.

This engaging title examines the fascinating world of plants, sharing insight into the ways in which they grow, survive, adapt, and even communicate--among themselves and even with other species! The text is written in second person and addresses various "creatures of the world" and asides on each spread provide further context or explanation to the concepts explored. Back matter includes suggested ways readers can "learn from plants" and adapt to changing climates and ecosystems. Ridolfi's mixed media collage illustrations are bold, eye-catching, and richly textured, and the overall book design is incredibly appealing. An excellent choice for curious young readers with an interest in plants, ecology, life cycles, and the environment.

This was a fascinating factual telling of plant life. Readers will learn what it means when we say that plants are living things. Through beautiful illustrations and lyrical narration, the reader learns about plant life, reproduction, defense, and even how interconnected trees communicate through their roots and how fungi and wildflowers are interdependent on one another.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this picture book, and it holds up to my test of "would adults enjoy and learn from this children's nonfiction text?" They would, and children will as well.

I highly recommend this book for schools and libraries.

This delightful narrative nonfiction assumes the voice of plants and is chock full of facts.

With engaging illustrations and high interest, this picture book is sure to delight young readers looking to learn more about plants.

I plan to add this to my library and would recommend it to elementary school libraries, public libraries, and personal collections.

Thank you to Net Galley, Astra Publishing House, and Astra Young Readers for the ARC. All opinions are my own and are influenced by my work as an elementary school librarian.