Searching for Sunshine: Finding Connections with Plants, Parks, and the People Who Love Them

(Hardback)

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Description

A thoughtfully researched visual exploration of our connections to nature, and why and how plants and green spaces make us happy.

When illustrator Ishita Jain relocated to the visually overwhelming and concrete-filled New York City from New Delhi, India, she found solace in its parks and gardens, and started thinking about how important green spaces are in big cities to its residents' sense of escape and peace. In Searching for Sunshine, Jain follows her curiosity and creativity to provide a vibrant compilation of visual essays and interviews centered around the simple yet compelling question of "Why do plants make us happy"

Whether living in a setting that is urban, rural, or somewhere in between, we can all find solace in the beautifully rendered pages and stories gathered here. Featuring over a dozen conversations with experts and plant-lovers alike, including scientists at the New York Botanical Gardens, groundskeepers at the famed Green-Wood Cemetery, shoppers at the beloved Union Square Greenmarket, a director of NYC Parklands, florists, and more, Jain's exploration of plants in New York City demonstrates how nature is vital to all experiences of our lives.

Reviews

"Charming collection...vibrant illustrations splashed on every page....There is much to savor in this collection of conversations about the power of plants and how they connect us."
--Booklist
"Searching for Sunshine is an environmental delight. It's a reminder of the interconnectedness of the land and all living organisms on earth--and the beauty of exploring our own connections to what made us fall in love with all that Mother Earth has to offer."
- Leah Thomas, author of The Intersectional Environmentalist
"This book gave me the reminder I need--that even in a city of concrete, we can all find ways to connect with plants and get our hands dirty. For me, a New Yorker, tree-hugger, people-person, and art-appreciator, this book is everything I love, all in one."
- Julia Rothman, illustrator of the Scratch column, The New York Times

Author Bio

Ishita Jain is an illustrator in New York City, originally hailing from New Delhi. She is an alumnus of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, and received an MFA from the School of Visual Arts, New York. She loves to draw on location and enjoys documenting the people, places, and stories that surround her. She writes and draws books for adults and children and her illustrations have appeared in the New York Times as well as in campaigns with Sephora and Link NYC.