The Wonderful World of Carnivorous Plants

By Suzanne Houghton

Reviewed by Sophia Evans 

Have you ever heard of a meat-eating plant? Or a plant that traps spiders and flies? Let’s be honest, most of us know about of the Venus fly trap and its ability to catch flies, but there are so many more fascinating plants that eat meat! The Wonderful World of Carnivorous Plants by Suzanne Houghton invites the reader to enter a world of sticky leaves, slippery stems and tricky traps – the world of meat-eating plants.

The Wonderful World of Carnivorous Plants includes a range of engrossing facts that are sure to delight budding scientists aged 5 to 9. For example, did you know that carnivorous plants are found in every part of the world, except for Antarctica? And did you know that not all carnivorous plants are killers? The tropical pitcher plant shares a symbiotic relationship with the mountain shrew, where the plant feeds on the shrew’s poo! I must admit, the illustration for this fact was one of my favourite double-page spreads.

For those who want to know more (and who wouldn’t), there is a section at the back with comprehensive information on why carnivorous plants are important, as well as more detail on each featured plant. There is also a glossary explaining the scientific terms used throughout the book.

Suzanna Houghton cleverly weaves a simple rhyming text with intricate, detailed illustration to show how each featured plant attracts or traps its prey. Some pages are double-page spreads in full colour, while other pages skilfully use white space to showcase the features of each plant.

Suzanne Houghton

For Teachers

CSIRO Publishing 2025