Celebrate Arbor Day
When Janice May Udry wrote A Tree Is Nice (Illustrated by Marc Simont), she propelled children into thinking about trees in new ways, in ways that stimulated budding environmentalistic attitudes toward nature's gift to the earth-trees--that shelter, shade, nourish, filter the air and water, and grace the landscape of Earth, our home. Many other authors and illustrators have paid homage to trees and reminded us that without them all of our lives would be very different, indeed. I am still thinking about those nizzards in The King's Stilts that were destroying the essential dyke trees...thank you, Dr. Seuss. Most states in the United States celebrate Arbor Day on the last Friday in April, but some have chosen different days. For a history of Arbor Day (The first Arbor Day took place on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska.) and information about when it is celebrated in your state visit: http://www.arbor-day.net/.
The following book selections will serve to introduce and educate children about aspects of celebrating, discussing, and acting on the National Arbor Day Foundation's encouragement to plant (and care for) trees. Visit their site www.arborday.org
Contributor: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature)
Reviews
Arbor Day
Kelly Bennett
The "Rookie Reader" series includes more than two-dozen "Rookie Read-About Holiday" books. The text opens with a picture of kids planting a tree and readers learn that "arbor" is another word for tree. J. Sterling Morton was concerned about the vast number of trees that were being cut down each year and it is through his efforts that the holiday came about. Arbor Day is the last Friday in April, but the celebration varies depending on the best time of year to plant trees in the area where you live. The importance of trees to our well-being is enumerated; they provide oxygen, fuel, shelter, food source, and paper. Full-color illustrations are found on each spread and really do help readers understand the information that is presented. Suggested activities include painting pictures, studying a variety of leaves and planting seedlings. There is a picture glossary entitled "Words You Know," an index and a very brief mention of the author. 2003, Children's Press/Scholastic, $19.00. Ages 5 to 7. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-516-22861-7
ISBN: 0-516-27754-5
Are Trees Alive?
Debbie S. Miller
Illustrations by Stacey Schuett
To answer the title question, the brief text compares many characteristics of trees to those of people. Each double spread depicts a particular tree in its environment, with people and creatures who live around it, as it lists the qualities that make it "alive." The trees and people are from all over the world, places that are identified on a map on the endpapers. The double-page, acrylic and gouache paintings are naturalistic but simplified to focus on providing visuals to illuminate the text. The birds, animals and people enhance the overall design, adding visual interest to the factual. A section at the end, "About the Trees," not only adds information about the trees but also a bit about the other creatures pictured. 2002, Walker & Company, $16.95. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Teachers' Choices, 2003; International Reading Association; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Great Lakes Great Book Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Grades Pre-K-1st; Michigan
ISBN: 0802788017
ISBN: 0802788025
Behold the Trees
Sue Alexander
Illustrated by Leonid Gore
A combination of lush illustrations and melodious prose tell the story of a land called Canaan, which bloomed with wild trees. During the time of the Israelite kings, cities and towns were built but "no new trees were planted." Then six hundred years of war followed. Fortresses were built out of the trees. Forests were set on fire so that enemy troops would have nowhere to hide. Much later, the Turks ruled the land and used trees to build roads and bridges. The remaining trees were destroyed by black goats who chewed up the roots. Without the protection of trees, the land became a desert. Animals and birds disappeared. Then a little more than fifty years ago, people came back to the land and made the desert bloom by planting millions of trees. This splendid book celebrates an environmental miracle that people of all faiths can admire. Leonid Gore's illustrations are stunning. The trees are drawn with human features. Branches sprout from hands tattooed with concentration camp numbers. Tree trunks reveal a mother cuddling a baby and a scholar holding a scroll. Readers will be mesmerized by these pictures within pictures, dramatizing an impressive story of destruction and renewal. 2000, Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic, $16.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Jackie Hechtkopf (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best of the Bunch, 2001; Association of Jewish Librarians; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars, Mar. 1, 2001; United States
Children's Book Sense 76 Picks, Spring/Summer 2001; Book Sense 76; United States
Los Angeles' 100 Best Books, 2001; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG and the Los Angeles Unified School District; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Border's Original Voices Awards Nominee 2002 Children's Picture Book United States
Children's Literature Council of Southern California Awards Winner 2002 Distinguished literary quality in a nonfiction work for all ages United States
ISBN: 0-590-76211-7
ISBN: 0-590-76212-5
An Elm Tree and Three Sisters
Norma Sommerdorf
Illustrated by Erika Weihs
In this book, three young sisters live on a farm where they help their mother and father plant gardens, milk cows, and feed chickens. One day, when the three sisters decide they need a tree for their yard, they hitch up a horse and wagon and go off to look for the perfect tree. They find a small one near a stream, take it back to their house, and plant it in the middle of the yard so that they can watch it grow as the years pass. The three sisters find that the tree becomes an important part of their lives as they grow older. This is a great book for preschool-aged children. The book sends the message that getting along with others can be lots of fun no matter what you are doing, even if it is finding a tree to plant in the yard. Another message that readers can gather from reading this book is that something as simple as a tree can bring family members together as the years go by. The illustrations in the book go right along with the text, giving a young child who may not know all of the words an idea of what is happening. This book could grab young children's attention because of all the different colors used in the illustrations. Illustrations appear on every page, starting with the picture on the cover of a big tree and three young children swinging and playing under it. 2001, Viking, $15.99. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Susan Dickerson (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-670-89308-0
A Grand Old Tree
Mary Newell DePalma
A tree's life cycle is described in this picture book for very young readers with simple text and colorful, spare illustrations. It is a primer for future nature books about trees that children will meet in the elementary school. The creatures using the tree as a home are a dominant feature on every page. The type of tree is never named nor does the author identify the seasons when the tree flowers, bears fruit, and sows seeds. In that sense, the book perpetuates misconceptions about nature by its omissions. Yet, the book is more a celebration of one tree and does address the natural decline and its use as a home to many creatures once it dies. When read aloud to young children, adults may be required to explain or show how a dead tree crumbles and becomes "part of the earth" or how the "many children" of one tree will change "the landscape for miles around." The book offers an opportunity to jump from the text to the use of correct, environmental terms such as seedlings, decay and recycle. 2005, Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic Inc, $16.99. Ages 3 to 5. Reviewer: Jacki Vawter, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
This refreshing new look at the familiar tale of the life cycle of a tree is presented simply but vividly. Her roots "sank deep into the earth; her arms reached high into the sky." The tree offers a home to many creatures as she goes through the seasons, sending her seeds out to form "many children." When she is very old, she falls and dies, but still offers refuge until she crumbles back into the earth, to be succeeded by her children. The visual story is told in daylight, except for the one snowy moonlit night when "finally she fell." Lots of white space and gently manipulated collage or mixed media on double pages are designed for pleasant viewing, with small animals and birds in large landscapes. A special spread depicts the tree over "a long, long time," through seasons and changing weather. The next page shows us a few of "many millions of leaves" floating down with a few ladybugs enjoying the ride. The tale of life and death and rebirth is visualized in a positive, light-hearted fashion. 2005, Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, $16.99. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0439623340
ISBN: 0439623359
The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest
Lynne Cherry
When a man enters the forest to cut down a giant Kapok tree, he is lulled to sleep by the heat and hum of the forest. As if in a dream, he is visited by creatures large and small, who educate him about what is at risk by the damage he intends. Sense of community, interdependency, oxygenation, and harmony are some of the balances that are made precarious by his intention. Finally, a Yanamamo Indian child asks the man to wake and see the forest with new eyes. The man does so; he sees the beauty and leaves the forest, dropping his ax on the way. Lynne Cherry grew up loving nature, drawing and writing. All three support this book by reaching right into the hearts of children and adults. 1990, Harcourt Brace, $15.00. Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).
In this modern fable, a man enters the Brazilian rainforest to chop down a great kapok tree. Exhausted from his labors, he puts down his ax and falls asleep at the foot of the tree. During his slumber, the rainforest animals emerge one-by-one and plead with him not to destroy their world. When the man wakes up, he notices the beauty of the rainforest and its creatures and decides to spare the tree. 1990, Harcourt Brace, $15.00. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Debra Briatico (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Growing Good Kids-Excellence in Children's Literature Awards, 2005; Junior Master Gardener Program/American Horticulture Society; Classic; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, 1994; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children, 1990; National Science Teachers Association; United States
Teachers' Choices, 1991; International Reading Association; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award Winner 1991 Picture Books United States
Charlotte Award Winner 1992 Grades k-2 United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Buckaroo Book Award, 1997-1998; Nominee; Grades K-3; Wyoming
Iowa Children's Choice Award, 1994-1995; Nominee; Iowa
Michigan Reader's Choice Award, 1993; Nominee; Grades Pre-K-2; Michigan
Texas Reading Club, 2005; Texas
Texas Reading Club, 2004; Texas
Texas Reading Club, 2001; Texas
ISBN: 015200520X
Hard To Crack: Nut Trees
Meredith Sayles Hughes
An appetizing book about nuts? I didn't think there could be one, but this book in the "Plants We Eat" series makes for educational as well as entertaining reading. Detailed drawings and an abundance of color photographs enhance the text in each chapter. Colored blocks of text are interspersed throughout, adding to the fascination of each type of nut, whether it is anecdotal information or a fun recipe. A chapter is devoted to each type of nut--pecans, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews and macadamias. Photographs of the particular nut trees in their native lands and how the nuts are processed are especially attractive and insightful. One particular fact informs us that once walnut trees were viewed as evil because it was believed that witches danced around them at sundown. Overall, this book accomplishes the objective to be a book that many will pick up and read. It should be used in a Junior High library during a unit about plants and/or food and will serve its purpose well in a public library. It should not be overlooked during country studies in Social Studies classes either, perhaps serving as extra credit material. A delightful, easy-to-read, attractive textbook about a common food. Go nuts reading it. 2001, Lerner, $26.60. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Elizabeth Young (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2002; Bank Street College of Education; United States
ISBN: 082252838X
Leaf Jumpers
Carole Gerber
Illustrated by Leslie Evans
Is it a picture book? Is it a science book? It is both--and very well done meshing text and illustrations. A nice escape into an autumn ritual, as well as providing factual information about identifying leaves and the reasons they turn color. Oak leaves are compared to sturdy fingers, red maple leaves to flames on a match. The allusions are magnificent, and the linoleum-cut illustrations bring clarity and beauty to the text. Two children (brother and sister?) are celebrating the fall foliage--but it is the little brown and white dog that seems to take delight in the leaves the most! As appropriate as this work is for a season-themed unit, this could easily enhance the art room library as well. A lesson on shading moves easily from the fur on the dog to the leaf pile. A terrific example of shapes, shadows and colors. Hopefully there will be more from this duo; the other three seasons need attention now. 2004, Charlesbridge Publishing, $15.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Elizabeth Young (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2005; H. W. Wilson; United States
Choices, 2005; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
ISBN: 1570914974
Leo's Tree
Debora Pearson
Art by Nora Hilb
This is a lovely early childhood book, perhaps even a first book for a young reader/listener. It tells, in appealing pictures and charming rhyme, of a tree planted when the main character is small, and of the boy and the scratchy, branchy linden tree growing up together though the seasons and the years." Bright warm sun/ Smell of mud/ Leo grows hair/ Tree sprouts buds." And then, "Seasons come/ Seasons go/ Slowly, slowly/ Small things grow." It is a small hardback book, 8" by 8", just right for little hands. Once the book has been read, a child will enjoy leafing through the book, remembering the story and watching how much growing things are alike. With its strong binding and sturdy paper, Leo's Tree will stand up well to wear. 2004, Annick Press, $19.95. Ages 1 to 4. Reviewer: Eleanor Heldrich (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1550378449
Let's Get Ready for Earth Day
Lloyd G. Douglas
In an easy to read and understand text, emergent readers learn about a relatively new holiday--Earth Day. What could be more important than caring for this place where we live? The class in this book learns about recycling and the importance of plants and trees. To celebrate the holiday they plant a tree on the school grounds. It is a simple step, but important to get kids thinking about our fragile environment. The book closes with a list of new words that includes a guide to pronunciation, references which includes books and a web site, an index and a brief statement about the author and reading consultants. Part of the "Celebrations" series, which in turn is part of a larger series, "Welcome Books." This one is labeled--Early Intervention level 8. 2003, Children's Press/Scholastic, $14.50. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0516242628
ISBN: 0516243543
The Life Cycle of a Tree
Bobbie Kalman & Kathryn Smithyman
Illustrations by Barbara Bedell
Kalman and Smithyman explore every aspect of the life cycle of a tree, beginning with how trees grow from seeds and the different stages of the early life of trees. A tree's first root is called a radicle, and this will be the main root for the rest of the tree's life. From the radicle grows rootlets and a plumule, which will become the trunk of the tree. The small tree, known as a seedling, will continue to grow until it is a copy of the parent tree, then known as a sapling. Though a sapling may look like the parent tree, it takes many more years before the tree is an adult and can begin to produce seeds of its own. The authors provide fascinating information on the way different trees produce seeds as well as how wind and animals spread the seeds. Full-color illustrations and photos provide examples of each stage of a tree's development. Words appearing in bold throughout the text are defined in the text or in the glossary. Also included is an index. Part of the "Life Cycle" Series. 2002, Crabtree Publishing Company, $5.95 and $20.60. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Danielle Williams (Children's Literature).
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Society of School Librarians International Book Awards Honor Book 2002 Science-Grades K-6 United States
ISBN: 0778706591
ISBN: 0778706893
Old Elm Speaks: Tree Poems
Kristine O'Connell George
Illustrated by Kate Kiesler
With Old Elm Speaks kids can herald spring leaves by reading tree poems by Kristine O'Connell George. Her images capture well the small details of the natural world. A bud is "a tiny velveteen satchel / the color of pale cream" and changing leaves "rage yellow gold red, / setting the hills ablaze." Kate Kiesler's oil paintings are a sumptuous tribute to our woody friends. 1998, Clarion, $15.00. Ages 7 to 12. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 1999; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars, September 1, 1998; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 1998; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Los Angeles' 100 Best Books, 1998; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG and the Los Angeles Unified School District; United States
Not Just for Children Anymore!, 2001; Children's Book Council; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, September 1998; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
The Golden Kite Award Award Book 1998 Picture Book TextAward Book United States
Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry Winner 1999 United States
ISBN: 0-395-87611-7
One Small Place in a Tree
Barbara Brenner
Illustrated by Tom Leonard
As a description of the lifecycle of an ecosystem, this book traces the way decay and rot in a tree produces a host for many other life forms. Leonard's precise paintings of the forest world and Brenner's straightforward text show what you might see while walking by this same tree in the forest over about a decade's time. A black bear's scratching provides a small enough wound that timber beetles settle and start the cycle of decay. Next come red-bellied woodpeckers and other birds to eat the beetles and larvae, then come bacteria, and a small hollow, which is used by such animals as a flying squirrel, nesting bluebirds, mice, and even a tree frog. When the tree finally falls, the hole hosts a garter snake and a red-backed salamander. In addition to using the specific specie, not the generic, Brenner chooses her words carefully so that a young naturalist can observe the interrelationship, much as she did for One Small Place by the Sea (2004) and Brenda Guiberson has done for the saguaro in Cactus Hotel (Holt, 1991). It is a fine addition to the book shelf. 2003, HarperCollins, $15.99. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2005; H. W. Wilson; United States
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12, 2004; National Science Teachers Association/CBC; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Beehive Award, 2005-2006; Nominee; Informational; Utah
ISBN: 0-688-17180-X
ISBN: 0-688-17181-8
Out and About at the Apple Orchard
Diane Mayr
Illustrated by Anne McMullen
Kids love field trips but they are not always possible or practical. This book offers a colorfully illustrated alternative beginning with a list of "things to find out" that helps to focus readers before the fictional field trip begins. Mrs.Pippin is the guide for the tour of Shiny Apple Farm. After the initial introduction, Mrs. Pippin teaches readers about pollination, apple tree care and maintenance, and proper apple picking procedure. Readers will learn that after the many varieties of apples have been harvested at Shiny Apple Farm, they are inspected and then sent to many different places and turned into dozens of different products including juice, cider and applesauce. Written for the pre-K to first grade audience, this is a very simple introduction to what a student might expect to experience on an actual field trip. The only negative aspect to this otherwise well-written book is the addition of information in italic type on every two-page spread. The information, while relevant, could have just as easily been incorporated into the main body of text and therefore been less distracting to young readers. Adding to the overall usefulness of this book is a related activity (floating fruit experiment), a Learn More list including books and Web sites, Fun Facts, an index and a Words to Know list. This is part of the "Out and About" series. 2003, Picture Window Books, $16.95. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Trina Heidt (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1404800360
Sammy Spider's First Tu B'Shevat
Sylvia A. Rouss
Illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn
Sammy isn't shouting through this book as he did through his First Purim, but then noise is not part of the Tu B'Shvat holiday, the Jewish Arbor Day. It is a quiet, hopeful holiday, celebrated by planting trees and eating fruit and nuts that grow on trees in Israel. Sammy spots Josh, "his" family's son, putting in a sapling and true to form, also wants to plant. "Silly spider," chides his mother, "Spiders don't plant, or put out buds, or drink nectar like a bee, or climb like a squirrel...they spin webs." So Sammy does just that at the end of this lovely story about the cycle of seasons of a tree--he spins a web to keep the young tree warm through the cold winter. The illustrations are very satisfying collages created from handmade papers that beautifully evoke the flavors of the seasons. A great gift for the holiday, which falls on January 28 in 2002, and a lovely addition to children's literature about trees any time during the year. 2001, Kar-Ben, $6.95. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Judy Chernak (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1580130658
Sky Tree: Seeing Science Through Art
Thomas Locker with Candace Christiansen
In an author's note, Locker tells us that "Through storytelling, art appreciation, and scientific exploration, Sky Tree attempts to reach both the heart and the mind." While each picture in this book presents the same scene--a tree by a river--each is profoundly different. Diurnal and seasonal changes are reflected in a change of mood, light, and color. The text is as evocative as the paintings: "The smell of wet earth filled the air. Squirrels raced through the fresh grass and up the tree. Sap rose to the tree's tight buds." On each page the artist asks the reader the same question in a different way, "How does this painting make you feel and why?" We are invited to linger, examine, and gain a deeper appreciation. In a section at the back of the book, the artist shares thought-provoking observations about color, composition and the nature of trees, sky, and light. 1995, HarperCollins, $15.95 and $15.89. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Victoria Crenson (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 1997; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars, June 1 & 15, 1995; United States
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children, 1996; National Science Teachers Association; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
The John Burroughs List of Nature Books for Young Readers Winner 1995 United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Children's Crown Award, 1996-1997; Nominee; Grades 3-6; United States
Michigan Reader's Choice Award, 1997; Nominee; Grades 6-8; Michigan
ISBN: 0-06-024883-1
ISBN: 0-06-024884-X
Solomon and the Trees
Matt Biers-Ariel
Illustrated by Esti Silverberg-Kiss
Beautifully written and illustrated, this book weaves an unusual tale of the famous King Solomon, one rooted in biblical verses as well as the modern world. In the style of a Midrash--that is, a story that could have been, or might have been, or maybe should have been--it leads us into the same forests where Solomon learned the languages of the birds and beasts in so many legends. But this time it focuses on the trees as his special friends. This time it is not that he becomes too busy as King to speak with his animal friends but that he does not foresee that his most beloved trees will be felled to build his temple and palace and throne. (Yes, the trees for the Temple actually came from Lebanon and not neighboring forests, but the principle is the same.) How can he make restitution for this grave desecration? The author neatly ties the story into the Jewish Arbor Day holiday of Tu BiSh'vat, to the old custom among Jewish people of planting trees in Israel as well as in their own home countries on that day. Read it for the beauty of its language as well as for its environmental consciousness, and enjoy a welcome addition to the literature of renewal. 2001, UAHC, $12.95. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Judy Chernak (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best of the Bunch, 2001; Association of Jewish Librarians; United States
ISBN: 0807407496
Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees For Kids
Gail Gibbons
As a first book about trees, this works on several levels. Gibbons defines a tree; explains a tree's workings using such terms as sapwood, cambium, phloem, and heartwood; diagrams growth; portrays various seed pods and shapes; differentiates conifers from broadleaf trees; and presents about twenty identification portraits by tree shape, leaf, and bark. Trees within the text are always labeled as to kind, and are enlarged on in the identification section that follows. End matter includes directions for making rubbings of leaves and bark, and of course, the author's usual addition of about a dozen other interesting facts in a short bulleted and illustrated list. The book presents a lot of information succinctly and the tree identification section includes trees from around the country, making this partly useful to tree-watchers but necessarily sending them to other field books for more options. Artwork is precisely rendered and the content well focused, making this a useful book for both the family resource shelf and the library's nonfiction collection. 2002, Little Brown, $16.95. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2002; Children's Literature; United States
Teachers' Choices, 2003; International Reading Association; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Garden State Children's Book Award, 2005; Nominee; Juvenile Non-Fiction; New Jersey
ISBN: 0316309036
Trees Are Terrific!
Lisa Trumbauer
What are the biggest plants in the world? Yes, trees. Trees with their roots holding them in place. Trees with a single stem called a trunk. Trees that grow leaves to collect sunlight and make food. Some trees have big flat leaves that fall in the autumn and grow back in the spring. Others are evergreen with thin leaves, called needles, and cones containing seeds that can grow new trees. Look no further if you are searching for a simple introduction to trees for your human seedling. Smaller hands will appreciate the petite format of this book (only 6" x 8"). Large, colorful photos accompany the bold, clear type. Seventeen pages contain 123 words. The glossary is combined with the index. The "Yellow Umbrella Book" science series includes Mammals, The Ocean, Push and Pull, Who Builds?, and Show Us Your Wings. 2004, Capstone/Yellow Umbrella Books, $11.95. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Chris Gill (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0736829237
ISBN: 0736828826
Up in the Tree
Margaret Atwood
In this quaint little book, two young children live up in a tree, with only an owl and each other for company! They are quite carefree and happy (except when it is extremely windy or rainy). They do have a ladder, but uh-oh, two beavers come and shred it to bits with their big beaver teeth! Now the children are anxious and worried, being stuck in the tree with no way down. That is, until a friend, in the form a big red bird, flies in and carries them safely to the ground. Now the children realize that a more permanent solution to getting up and down the tree must be made, so they nail boards to the side of the tree and are happy again. Written and illustrated by the Canadian author, whose work is most widely recognized in adult circles and has been critically acclaimed internationally for forty years, this book is a gentle charmer. It was originally published in 1978, when the author could only afford to pay for two colors of paint for the illustrations; thus the blue, red and brownish (combination of the blue and red) colors. Recommended. 2005 (orig. 1978), Groundwood Books, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer: Cindy Carolan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-88899-729-9
Added 04/01/06
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