Review by Booklist Review
Librarians and teachers will find many opportunities to utilize poet and environmentalist LeBox's gorgeous work as a read-aloud or within units on science, art, and social-emotional learning. The main body of the book describes the life of a tree she calls Mother Aspen. First are the seasons of one year, from when the tree sends up shoots in spring, which look like multiple trees but are joined by one root system, through winter. LeBox narrates the long-term life of the tree, over hundreds of years, until the tree dies from storm damage. LeBox emphasizes the symbiosis of the tree, underground fungus, and forest animals; her description of how the dead tree will continue to give life by becoming a "nurse log" will be a valuable addition to lessons on life cycles and even on grieving. The author's afterword offers more detailed information about tree cooperation and communication. Smith's vibrant watercolors of the tree and forest dwellers are bursting with life and are a highlight of the book. A wonderful choice for school and public library shelves.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3--Lyrical language that informs and evokes connection with the forest community, along with detailed and saturated illustrations that capture readers' emotions, make this year-in-the-life of an aspen grove a stellar selection. LeBox provides readers with a glimpse into these groves, which are of extreme importance due to their resilience and the biodiversity they support. Through a complex underground root system and mycorrhizal fungi, the aspens, along with other trees, care for one another. The animals that live among this system also benefit. Complex scientific information is shared with readers through text that never overwhelms, accompanied by illustrations that support and deepen understanding. When Mother Aspen dies at the end of the book, readers will be comforted by all the ways her life continues. Fascinating back matter and listed resources expand on the information for young naturalists. VERDICT A perfect combination of information, artwork, and emotional impact. Highly recommended for all collections as a wonderful introduction to the importance of forest biodiversity and the amazing world of trees.--John Scott
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A celebration of the Wood Wide Web that connects an aspen grove with its forest community. LeBox explains how an aspen sprouts "children" from "her" roots. The entire stand is actually one organism, which has "lively conversations" with other types of trees thanks to an underground mycelial network that consumes, stores, and shares water and sugars as conditions and needs change. Meanwhile, as depicted by Smith's lush and lovely digitally painted woodscapes, the forest also shelters and feeds a host of wildlife from bears to butterflies. Mushrooms grow in profusion, and aspen leaves turn golden, all in their proper seasons; a longer cycle completes itself at last when the Mother Tree "takes her last breath," falling in a storm to become a decomposing nurse log. Though the book ramps up the anthropomorphism, it's nevertheless an enticing introduction. In her afterword, the author decries the obliteration of complex forest ecosystems by commercial lumber interests and pays tribute to the work of naturalist Suzanne Simard in discovering many of these subtle, hidden natural connections. She also supplies useful lists of print and video resources for readers drawn by the glowing art and prose to dig further into the subject. Lyrical and intriguing, if heavy-handed on the personification.(Informational picture book. 6-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
