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Sandra Lawrence, Author
Dawn Cooper, Illustrator
Imprint: Welbeck Children's Books
Publication date: August 14, 2025
Category: Natural history
ISBN: 9781803381633
Madame Volare, apothecarist and witch extraordinaire invites you to be her apprentice and learn about the world’s most magical plants.
For thousands of years, plants have been used to heal and soothe. Discover the amazing power within a humble leaf, seed, petal and stem, and how our ancestors feared or revered flowers and herbs. From the mandrake that bestows luck to the calming St John’s wort, take a fascinating walk through a witch’s garden, exploring the uses, folklore and history of over fifty common plants.
Respect and marvel at the pure magic of the natural world and how you can harness its power for your own health and happiness.
Sandra Lawrence has written for all the British broadsheet newspapers and many magazines, including Marie Claire, Britain, British Heritage, The English Garden and Kitchen Garden. Her 19 books mainly focus on history, gardens and folklore; she is probably best known for her biography of horticultural maverick Ellen Willmott, Miss Willmott’s Ghosts. She is the author of three other esoteric titles with Kew, which have been translated into 10 languages – Witch’s Garden, The Magic of Mushrooms and Witch’s Forest. Her website is sandralawrence.com.
Dawn Cooper
Dawn graduated from Bath School of Art & Design with a first-class degree in Graphic Communication in 2011, and she has rarely set down her pens and paper since! Her work includes non-fiction children’s books, book covers, maps and packaging. Dawn finds great inspiration from the natural world, traditional botanical drawings, animals, works of fiction and illustrated quotations.