Review by Booklist Review
This captivating book, with 150 remarkable color photographs by Parker, is not designed to identify the world's oldest individual tree or to be a definitive guide to all the world's ancient trees. Rather, it is a celebration of 30 species and groups of trees that include individuals that will be at least 1,000 years old at the beginning of the millennium. The botanical name of each species is given, along with its distribution: the U.S., Mexico, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand--just about anywhere on Earth. The authors give information on the oldest-known living specimen of each. And these old trees are big: the world's tallest living tree is a 368-foot 1,500-year-old coast redwood in California. Religious significance and mythical associations are also noted. --George Cohen
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
This engrossing and visually appealing book is intended as a celebration of some of the world's oldest living trees. By the authors' own admission, it is not a definitive guide to all of the world's ancient trees. Lewington, an environmental and children's book writer, and photographer Parker have selected some of the nearly 100 species they have identified as living 1000 years or longer. Trees from all around the world are represented: redwood, bristlecone pine, Brazil nut, yew, oak, lime, olive, baobab, fig, cedar, ginkgo, and others. Parker's many beautiful, full-color images contribute a great deal, but what makes this book especially interesting is a discussion of the roles these trees have played through the ages in human religions, myths, economies, and everyday life. Ancient Trees should appeal to a wide audience and is recommended for public, school, and undergraduate college libraries.ÄWilliam H. Wiese, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames (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.