Review by Choice Review
Wells, author of 100 Birds and How They Got their Names (2001) and 100 Flowers and How They Got their Names (1997), has written a peach of a book on the uncommon history of 100 trees. She makes clear in the introduction that this work is not for botanists but for nonexperts. At the beginning of each chapter is an attractive drawing of a leafy twig bearing a flower or fruit. This is followed by notes on nomenclature, plant distribution, biblical associations, folklore, medicinal properties, literary connections, and interesting stories about each tree. Of course, one could not discuss the breadfruit tree without mentioning Captain Bligh. This reviewer particularly enjoyed reading about some of the unusual trees, such as the baobab, the welwitschia, the monkey puzzle, and the handkerchief tree. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and general readers. L. W. Roberts emeritus, University of Idaho
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
Because trees make so many more aspects of our lives possible and pleasurable than we realize, Wells felt compelled to reintroduce us to these miraculous sentries, companions, and providers, entities that make the earth both bountiful and beautiful. Long considered sacred by diverse cultures, trees are crucial in this time of accelerated climate change, thanks to their ability to counteract the deleterious impact of carbon emissions. Trees offer shade, shelter, and quiet; medicine and food; and building materials for everything from houses to books. Trees are wreathed with lore and continue to yield scientific discoveries, yet, Wells observes, We can even live on a street named for a particular tree and not be able to identify the tree itself. To rectify this loss of invaluable knowledge, Wells portrays 100 trees, beginning with acacia and ending with yew, in a tree album containing lovely drawings and pithy essays. Cinnamon, ginkgo, small and spiny frankincense, mahogany, Osage orange, sycamore all are succinctly described and celebrated in this warmly informative, fun-to-browse book of colorful tree histories.--Seaman, Donna Copyright 2009 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
