The tree forager [40 extraordinary trees & what to do with them]

Seen through the eyes of the author, trees are more than lumber, furniture, and forest campfires. Each tree is colorfully illustrated by leaf, flower, fruit, and canopy. Both commonly known and exotic species are included: birch, maple, and oak along with guelder rose and sea buckthorn. Each tree is paired with a song title (e.g., "Maple Glazed Donut," by James Newton Howard; "Banyan Tree," by Machine Gun Kelly); and the author has created a corresponding Spotify playlist to which readers are encouraged to contribute. Although it includes spot-on identification tips, this whimsical and invitingly readable book is not primarily a field guide. Rather, each entry is richly supplemented with applicable information about food, herbal medicine, wildlife, crafts, history, and folklore. The monkey puzzle tree, so named because its bizarre conformation would challenge even a monkey to climb, has been around for tens of millions of years, and its thick, spiny leaves likely evolved to discourage dinosaurs from munching on them. The Tree Forager is a delightful read and a fine choice for public and school libraries.