The Stuff that Stuff is Made Of

The Stuff that Stuff is Made of 🌳

Discover the incredible things we make with plants with best-selling author and science communicator, Jonathan Drori.

Did you know that there's seaweed in ice cream, cork in spacecraft and dandelion in truck tyres? Have you wondered how paper or thread are made, or why the mandrake is so mysterious?

Meticulously researched and beautifully illustrated, this book of wonder gives a young reader the knowledge of how the things we use every day are born from natural materials, and the surprising stories behind their creation.

Discover how:

• Dandelions can turn into tyres
• Papyrus is pressed into paper
• Cacao becomes chocolate
• Baobab trees transform into rope
• Cotton is spun into banknotes
• Bamboo helps people as well as pandas

...and much more!

With 30 beautifully crafted stories throughout history and from all around the world, this book entwines plant science with human history and technology and is a beautiful botanical gift to explore and treasure for readers aged 7 to 70.

About the Author

Jonathan Drori CBE is a Trustee of both Cambridge and Oxford Botanic Gardens and Honorary Professor at Birmingham University's Institute of Forest Research. Previously, he was a Trustee of the Eden Project and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and for BBC TV, was responsible for many science documentaries. He is known for his TED talks on botany, which have been viewed millions of times. Jon is the author of the runaway best-sellers, Around the World In 80 Trees and Around the World in 80 Plants, revealing how the worlds of trees and plants are intricately entwined with our own history, culture and folklore. The Stuff That Stuff Is Made Of is his first book for children.

About the Illustrators

Raxenne Maniquiz is an illustrator and graphic designer based in the Philippines, whose work is often bursting with native botanicals. No matter the subject matter, her skillful handling of deep, painterly strokes and brilliant contrasting colours always breeds beautiful results. Raxenne's finely textured illustrations and signature colourful backgrounds have emblazoned branding campaigns, product packaging, apparel, stationery and murals, not to mention lighting up multiple publications.

Jiatong Liu is a Chinese born illustrator who lives in London. He went to Kingston university to study illustration in 2019. After finishing his master's degree, he became a freelance illustrator and teacher in 2021. As a young talent illustrator, he has won several prestigious awards for his illustration work during these two years, including Communication Arts, Young Ones ADC and 3X3 award. Liu has developed quite a distinctive style that reflects the visuals of his wildest dreams. His ability to manifest the world from his imagination into these unique pieces makes him a true visionary.

Polly & Co's Kids & Children's Books

Books are one of our go-to gift ideas! There’s something special about a gifting a beautiful hardcover book with a handwritten note inside the cover. Or, if you are shopping for your own little one, reading is a wonderful way to spend time together.

We always search to find books that help celebrate the wonder of our world, inspire imagination and/or mindfulness; books that make us learn, feel, and expand our views. And this has inspired our children's book collection here at Polly & Co.