Review by Booklist Review
Whimsical watercolor illustrations complete a field-guide-style book that documents trees across North America. The opening pages go micro, exploring the roots, branches, bark, seeds, and leaves that make up a tree; illustrations show the differences between deciduous and evergreen trees, document different types of leaves, and chart the growth of a tree from seed to sapling. Subsequent spreads examine how trees change throughout the seasons, examining how each season is essential for growth and health. Ending segments map the different types of forest regions in North America, document some of the animals that make their homes in trees, and highlight strange or unusual trees. For readers interested in a more hands-on approach, an activity section provides instructions on how to plant and care for a new tree, while a page on endangered trees offers steps to take toward protecting trees. The layered watercolors spot art and full-page illustrations are bright and eye-catching, providing both a clearly informative and picturesque look into the complex world of trees.--Maggie Reagan Copyright 2019 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Watercolor and gouache illustrations with a light-handed contemporary sensibility enliven a straightforward and comprehensive introduction to U.S. and Canadian trees. Essentials such as tree structure, the difference between deciduous and evergreen trees, leaf morphology, and how trees breathe, eat, and pollinate are all explained in direct, accessible text. Seasonally themed spreads cover why leaves fall and how maple syrup is made, while others illuminate interesting tree behaviors, such as the fact that cold nights might actually cause trees to crack with a bang. Varied text formats-sidebars, lists, and asides-make it easy to absorb all this information, and sections on beginner tree watching, forest regions, and strange trees (among them the manchineel and its "death apples") offer alternate pathways to engage attention. A glossary and index conclude this thoughtfully presented resource. Ages 7-10. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5-In this nonfiction installment, Hickman and Gavin present a scenic picture book about trees in the United States and Canada. This picture book is similar to a guidebook, breaking down scientific facts about each tree and allowing readers to see each piece that makes a tree grow with realistic watercolor and goauche diagrams. From the sprouting of a seed to a tree's life throughout the seasons, children are shown every aspect of trees in great, colorful detail. The book offers a table of contents, activities throughout, a glossary, and an index. Although the amount of information can be overwhelming, the facts are broken down into paragraphs and bullet points for older readers, while the beauty of the illustrated diagrams and activities will engage younger readers too. VERDICT Classroom teachers, school librarians, and fans of Hickman's previous books will enjoy this lovely, informative volume.-Hilary Tufo, Columbus Metropolitan Library-Reynoldsburg © Copyright 2019. 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
Photosynthesis, pollination, leaf types, and more feature in this fact-filled beginner's guide to Canadian and American trees. Smudgy watercolor and gouache illustrations lack the realistic detail you'd expect in a guidebook but compensate with vibrant eye-catching hues (particularly in the sections on trees in each season). Instructions on tree-watching and -planting encourage readers to experience nature for themselves. Glos., ind. (c) Copyright 2019. 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
"Do you like to climb trees, sit under their shady branches on a hot summer's day, eat apples and peaches, read books or watch birds?"The conversationalbut never condescendingtext goes on to say that a "yes" to any of those questions shows that trees are already an important part of the reader's life. It then goes on to mention a few more of the roles trees play in the United States and Canada, which are "two of the most forested countries in the world," and to invite readers to learn more in the following pages. From the colorful, stylized cover art that shows various trees in different seasons through the simplebut not oversimplifiedexplanations of photosynthesis, pollination, and more to the pages that offer silhouettes of trees and leaves alongside tips for "Beginner Tree-Watching," this book gently funnels readers into deeper understanding and appreciation. The layout offers a variety of formats, interspersing large-lettered headings and subheadings with well-leaded, oversized text and bright watercolors that are easy to interpret. The page titled "Trees in Summer" is probably the wordiest; it is made nonthreatening through the smooth introduction of vocabulary and the easily understood diagram of a peeled-away tree trunk. Childlike images of animals, especially bees, will further charm readers into becoming conservationists by the time the text exhorts them to do so.A cogent, jauntily illustrated primer. (glossary, index) (Informational picture book. 7-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
