Hello, Tree

Crespo gives readers a story of a forest fire and its aftermath from the point of view of one who has been there: a tree. A ponderosa pine, to be exact. This one grew from a sapling in a forest clearing and describes its comfortable surroundings and those who keep it company: a family in a nearby house, animals, and other trees. But one hot and windy summer night, lightning strikes and ignites a massive fire, forcing all to flee, except the rooted-in-place tree. "All I could do...was wait." A double-page spread of vignettes shows firefighters saving animals and fighting flames, and, in a small deviation from point of view, the tree's human neighbors in a local shelter. Finally, "fire lost the battle." Two dramatic illustrations, nearly devoid of color, depict a charred landscape, with our narrator, and a few of its neighboring conifers, still standing. Soon, life returns. Spare prose outlines the process of recovery while the watercolor and digital illustrations provide a full picture of people rebuilding a home and planting seedlings, birds returning, and forest animals adapting to the changed surroundings. Concluding notes, geared to an older audience, trace the general sequence of events in forest fires, beginning with their inception and outlining both the immediate and long-term effects. Appended with a bibliography. See also Wildfire! on page 90. Betty Carter November/December 2021 p.68(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A steadfast pine tree grows alongside a young girl. The tree narrates, describing how the pair play together and provide each other comfort and companionship. Life is serene in the forest clearing where both the girl's family's house and the tree are situated, until a lightning storm brings fire and chaos. Animals flee, and the girl and her family evacuate, leaving the tree alone. Miraculously, the tree survives, yet destruction is all around. Charred trunks, barren land, and the ruins of the girl's home have replaced the verdant lushness of the thriving forest. Nature finds a way though, and through the combined efforts of the human and animal communities (the latter never anthropomorphized), the forest regrows, and the cycle of stewardship is passed along to the next generation. Though told from the tree's perspective, this quietly powerful tale of ecological awareness will prompt reflection about readers' own roles in coexisting with and protecting nature. The simple, evocative text captures the placid, ever faithful voice of the tree and pairs well with the detailed illustrations. The deep greens of the mature forest project a strong sense of reassurance and vitality that effectively contrasts with the bleak browns, blacks, and grays of the post-fire scenes. The girl and her family have black hair and olive skin. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Both an appreciation of nature and an ultimately hopeful reminder about our symbiotic relationship with it. (additional facts, author's notes) (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.