Mystery Plants & Trees is a gentle nature picture book inspired by real bushland walks in Darwin’s Ludmilla Bushblock.
Through the eyes of a young explorer, children are invited to slow down, observe the plants and trees around them, and discover the quiet wonders of the natural world.
This beautifully printed edition is perfect for shared reading, nature-inspired learning, and families who enjoy exploring the outdoors together.
Product Details
Format
• A5 landscape • Full colour illustrated picture book • Saddle-stitched binding (stapled) • 32 pages Who this book is for
Mystery Plants & Trees is ideal for:
• families who enjoy nature walks
• early childhood and primary classrooms
• homeschool learning
• environmental and nature-based education
The story encourages children to observe closely, imagine freely, and develop their own relationship with the natural world.
Recommended Age
Early childhood to early primary (approximately ages 4–8)
Author
Maria Grujicic — artist and educator with over 25 years of international teaching experience, working across Montessori and process-based learning approaches with a focus on art, nature, and tactile exploration. First edition – printed in Darwin, Northern Territory
Mystery Plants & Trees: Adventures in the Ludmilla Bushblock– Printed Book
The illustrations in Mystery Plants & Trees were developed through a combination of observation, documentation, memory, and digital creative tools.
Over many years I photographed and filmed plants, animals, and landscapes within the Ludmilla Bushblock. These recordings became an important visual archive of the place.
I also drew sketches and studied the shapes and movements of plants and animals I observed in the bushland. Childhood photographs of myself helped shape the character of the girl in the story.
Using these materials — photographs, film stills, sketches, and memories — I developed the illustrations digitally. Technology allowed me to combine these references into images that reflect both the real environment and the emotional landscape of memory.
Some plants and animals in the book are directly inspired by species I observed in the bushblock. Others are imaginative combinations that represent how the landscape felt to me as a child.
The goal of the illustrations was not scientific accuracy but to capture the sense of curiosity, discovery, and connection that children experience when exploring nature.