Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 2^-4. Trees and how they grow are the subject of this clear, handsome introduction. The double-page-spread illustrations in line and colored pencil are on parchment and pastel papers that set off pieces of the page in defined panels and columns. With a spread on all kinds of leaves, there's a panel that explains photosynthesis. With the general information about leaves, roots, bark, flowers, and seeds, and how they change through the seasons, there are also inserts about, for example, the oldest tree or the baobab tree or the tall sequoias. Most dramatic is the view of a great tree trunk in cross-section, with its growth rings clearly marked. The detailed botanical drawings are carefully labeled, and elementary science students as well as nature lovers will find facts here and a quiet sense of wonder. --Hazel Rochman
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4Leaves, sap, bark, and roots all play a part in nourishing trees through seasonal changes and years of growth. Dorros's short, informative explanations and Schindler's skillfully etched views of trees, forest life, and animals offer an exceptionally attractive science lesson. Topics are handsomely arranged in double-page scenes with sidebars that provide related information. Many aspects of tree growth cyclesthe layers of cambium forming the growth rings, the passage of water, the production of flowers and seeds, the autumnal color change, and the microscopic and larger animal life supporting and supported by treesare beautifully explicated in text, captions, labels, and excellent diagrams. The wide variety of trees and leaves used as examples, the clarity of the discussion, and the natural shades of the colored-pencil illustrations against parchment tones make this book appealing. The slim volume invites browsing and will encourage observation of the natural world.Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
The primary text uses simple analogies ('Water moves up the trunk as if it is being sucked through a straw') to explore the basics of tree physiology, while sidebars provide intriguing facts about exotic species. Unique full-page textured illustrations etched on parchment and pastel papers and filled with colored pencil effectively convey the subtle textures of tree barks and leaves. From HORN BOOK 1997, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A verdant testimony to the noble plants that shade our lawns and line our streets. Dorros (Isla, 1995, etc.) goes back to the basic botany of mostly temperate-zone trees, presenting leaves, roots, bark, flowers, and fruit in simple language. He also explains processes such as photosynthesis, the movement of xylem and phloem, and the tree's ``ring system'' of charting its own age. Using sidebars to his advantage, Dorros sets forth interesting details--e.g., how a baobab stores water--without interrupting the flow of the main text. The science isn't new, but Schindler's illustrations portray it so vigorously that readers will almost hear leaves rustling overhead. Textures abound, from scratchy-looking bark to the smooth round bottoms of acorns. Readers will be exploring woods, sidewalks, and yards- -anyplace there are trees--with new eyes. (Picture book/nonfiction. 5-8)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
