In a Nutshell

by Joseph Anthony, Cris Arbo (Illustrator)

Overview

In a Nutshell is a book that explores the life cycle of a plant, but more importantly, readers are given beautiful life lessons on change and growth in this inspirational book for kids, as we see the acorn travel through the seasons. A wonderful graduation gift book.

Through luminous illustrations, In a Nutshell explores the life cycle of an oak tree and how it supports life even after it is gone. An acorn drops from a great oak and grows. Animals nibble at it, a fire threatens it, but overcoming many challenges it eventually towers high in the forest, observing the changing human scene below. Eventually its energy passes into many other life forms. An oak tree can teach much about seeds and seasons and cycles—but it also can make us appreciate the challenges it must overcome.

Great for parents, teachers, or gift givers looking for a:

• preschool graduation gift
• kindergarten graduation gift
• book to provide inspiration
• the perfect "planting seeds for kids" book to explore this summer!
• The ideal gardening book for kids ages 4-8

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781883220983
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	02/01/2011
Series:	Sharing Nature with Children Series
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,070,879
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.08(d)
Lexile:	AD620L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Joseph Patrick Anthony was born the tenth of eleven children. His family loved the mountains, so exploring with his brothers and sisters nurtured an innate love for adventure and an appreciation for the natural world. He traveled with the Navy as a trumpet player, worked in a natural food store, as a Corrections Officer, a massage therapist, and a construction supervisor, experiences which have all served to deepen his self-understanding and perspective on the human condition. Joseph's cosmological work, "Our Multi-Tiered Universe," grew out of a desire to help move the planet to a clean energy future. His website is www.JosephPatrickAnthony.com.

Cris Arbo's art is known for intense detail and is inspired by her love and respect for nature. It has appeared in books, magazines, calendars, cards, murals, and in animated feature films, TV shows, and commercials. She has illustrated six nature awareness children's books for Dawn Publications and is also a frequent presenter at schools and conferences. Cris has four daughters and lives in Buckingham, Virginia with her husband, author Joseph Anthony and their youngest daughter, Alina. Many of Cris' favorite hours are spent in the garden.

Editorial Reviews

Beautifully illustrated, this is the story of a little acorn and how it grew. Reluctantly it dropped on to the dark forest floor, but flourished as it grew into a mighty oak. The oak prospered for many years, and shed many acorns of its own. But then its time was over and it fell to the ground and added nutrients to the soil. A cherry tree was planted in that very spot where the oak tree had fallen. The cherries from that tree were made into a pie that was eaten by the folks who lived in the house next door. The tiny acorn had lived as a tree, nourished the soil and now had nourished people by providing food.

Kristin Harris