Rooting for Plants: The Unstoppable Charles S. Parker, Black Botanist and Collector
Calkins Creek, 2023

About the book
This picture book is about Charles S. Parker, a trailblazing Black scientist who made major contributions to the fields of botany (the study of plants) and mycology (the study of fungi). From his earliest years, his passion was plants. As a soldier in World War I, Charles witnessed massive ecological devastation. He was determined to have a career making things grow, not destroying them. His accomplishments included discovering the source of a disease killing peach and apricot trees and teaching the next generation of Black scientists at Howard University.

This event is presented in partnership with Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice (SDARJ).

About the author
Janice N. Harrington is an award-winning poet and children’s author. Previous books include Buzzing with Questions, Chasing a Storyfish, The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County, and Going North. She teaches creative writing at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Purchase the book
Please help support local independent bookstores by purchasing this book at Browseabout Books, official bookseller of the History Book Festival. Online sources and digital versions are tempting; however, supporting local brick and mortar shops helps to preserve our vibrant main streets. Drop by Browseabout, order books online, or call the store at 302-226-2665. You also may purchase a copy at biblion in Lewes.

About the Festival
The History Book Festival is the first and only book festival in the United States devoted exclusively to history. With the help of our presenting funding partners — Delaware Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, and The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices | PenFed Realty — as well as our program and community partners, volunteers, and donors, the 2024 History Book Festival will be full of great discussions with authors of newly published narrative nonfiction and historical fiction. Our Keynote event is presented by Sally Mott Freeman and John K. Freeman, and our Closing event is presented by Griswold Home Care for Sussex and Kent Counties. Saturday’s Spirited Discussion, our gathering for attendees and presenters to celebrate and discuss their day, is presented by Dogfish Head Beer & Benevolence.

Special thanks to our Founding Program Partners for their continuing support: the Lewes Public Library, for event promotion and production, and Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, official bookseller of the History Book Festival. Thanks also to: the  Lewes Chamber of Commerce for event promotion, and the Cape Gazette and Delmarva Public Media, our media partners.

Additional thanks to our community partners: CAMP Rehoboth, Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center,  Historic Lewes Farmers Market, Lewes Historical Society, Rehoboth Art League, Rehoboth Beach Film Society, Seaside Jewish Community, and Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice (SDARJ).