Don’t Eat Me! The Almost True Story of Belladonna
Don’t Eat Me! The Almost True Story of Belladonna
Written by Kate Finney
Illustrated by Esmé Shapiro
From award-winning illustrator Esmé Shapiro and debut talent Kate Finney comes the unforgettable story of Belladonna, a spunky, beautiful plant who must learn to survive—even though she can’t flee from those who want to devour her!
One of New York Magazine / The Strategist's Best New Books for Kids Published in 2025!
Everyone in the forest knows about Belladonna—that tall, beautiful plant whose berries are so delicious that they’re forever being gobbled up. Day after day, poor Belladonna is nibbled at until there’s almost nothing left of her. But unlike the animals who can leap, climb, or fly away, Belladonna, being a plant, is firmly rooted in place. So what’s a plant to do to survive?
This is the story of how Belladonna learns to harness her own chemical powers to protect herself and her descendants… and how she learns from a great cast of plant and animal characters—culminating in a dandy pheasant—that no one ever survives alone.
This one-of-a-kind picture book is gorgeously illustrated by Esmé Shapiro with wit and humor, and has an astonishingly epic framing that carries Belladonna across eons into her final, powerful form!
ISBN: 978-1-59270-434-7 • 8” (W) x 11.75” (H) • 56 pages • HCJ
Click HERE for an activity guide inspired by Don’t Eat Me! The Almost True Story of Belladonna prepared by author Kate Finney!
For copies signed by the illustrator, click HERE to order Don’t Eat Me! The Almost True Story of Belladonna through Oblong Books!
“Getting to know the plants around you”: An ACTIVITY GUIDE prepared by author Kate Finney!
REVIEWS
One of New York Magazine / The Strategist's Best New Books for Kids Published in 2025! "Beautiful, poetic, and captivating." —Youngna Park, The Strategist
“Esme’s artwork is breathtaking, rich with folk-art touches and intricately hand-painted natural details. You can see every brushstroke on each blade of grass. The plants, animals, and insects all seem curiously alive, their bright eyes and funny little teeth full of personality.” —Artist, author, and illustrator Julia Rothman, for The Strategist
"Sumptuously illustrated… Shapiro draws on folk art motifs, botanical art, and classic fairy tale aesthetics to portray a forest where, via debut author Finney’s extended text, everything is not only alive but eager for deep conversations about the paradoxes of adaptation and interdependence." —Publishers Weekly
"Adaptation and survival take a front seat in this intriguing tale of a forward-thinking flower. This intriguing bit of informational fiction follows the personal journey of a plant from delicious to deadly... Accompanied by lush art that imbues the various flora with expressive faces, the book also gets a great deal of comic mileage out of the different animals munching on Belladonna with gleeful abandon." —Kirkus Reviews
"This book has key nonfiction STEM themes, yet is told in a lyrical and narrative story/fable style. This is a textbook case of informational fiction." —Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production (A School Library Journal blog)
"An original and wholly charming pourquoi tale." —Booklist
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! “Beautifully bizarre! The illustrations are vibrant and expressive, matching the whimsical, educational story. A fun way to teach kiddos about poisonous plants and animals coexisting on our planet!” —Emma, Bookseller at Content Bookstore (Northfield, MN)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! “A beautifully illustrated and entertaining story of the belladonna and the way that it (probably) got its poison.” —Michelina, Bookseller at Book Love (Plymouth, MA)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! “Hand this one to all of those elementary science teachers trying to make adaptation understandable and interesting!” —Chris Kaiser, Librarian at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School (Omaha, NE)
“Original, unique, imaginative, special, and a fun read from cover to cover, Don't Eat Me! The Almost True Story of Belladonna is a distinctively memorable children's picture book by author Kate Finney which is superbly illustrated throughout by the museum/art gallery quality artwork of Esme Shapiro. Especially and unreservedly recommended for family, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children ages 6-9.” —Midwest Book Review
“The artwork is stunning—modern folk art in woodland tones that feels both fresh and timeless—and will certainly invite readers to pore over the illustrations… An original concept paired with beautiful artwork, this book will appeal to readers who enjoy botany-inspired fables.” —Rachel Joiner, Librarian at Advent Episcopal School (Birmingham, AL)