Olaf Hajek – illustratör

Olaf Hajek’s fantastical and mesmerising art is familiar to many adults. Now young readers can enjoy his work while learning about the fascinating health benefits of flowers they encounter every day. Hajek’s paintings spring to life, populated by insects, birds, fruit, and fairytales that illustrate the drama of the natural world. Accompanying each painting are engaging texts that explore various cultural and medicinal aspects of the flowers as well as their importance to artists, writers, and healers. As they learn how iris roots were used to alleviate teething pain in babies and how poppy plants led to the invention of the salt shaker, kids will also get to know a garden’s worth of blooms—from wild roses to carnations and peonies to marigolds. Kids will look at flowers in a whole new light and will delight in this beautiful keepsake of botanical illustrations by a celebrated artist.

As more and more families focus on local and organic eating, this delightful introduction to common vegetables offers a delectable serving of uncommonly beautiful illustrations and fascinating information. As in his hugely popular previous book, Flower Power, Olaf Hajek’s wondrously imaginative and detailed portraits are paired with engaging and eye-opening texts. The book shows how each vegetable appears in its natural soil habitat, and how it might be eaten today. Health benefits, historical tidbits, and botanical oddities are seamlessly woven into each spread. From the first spring onion, to pumpkins harvested just before the frost, this inviting journey through the growing season celebrates the artistic, historical, and culinary bounty that awaits us in the garden and at the table.