Nature All Around: Trees

by Pamela Hickman, Carolyn Gavin (Illustrator)

Overview

This comprehensive and beautifully illustrated introduction to trees and the important role they play is part of the essential Nature All Around series. The book first explores the parts of trees, their life cycles, the difference between deciduous and evergreen trees, leaf types and the processes of photosynthesis and respiration. Then it takes readers through a year in the life cycle of trees, describing what happens during each of the four seasons. Readers will discover the many ways trees are vital to the environment and how various animals can share one tree as a home. A two-page spread contains a map of forest regions across the United States and Canada. And there's even a section for “budding” tree-watchers, with fun questions to help identify trees in their neighborhoods.

Combine bestselling author Pamela Hickman's child-friendly, informative text with Carolyn Gavin's whimsical, painterly illustrations and you get both a complete reference tool and a book that children will be drawn to for its enticing visual appeal. This book has strong curriculum applications in grades two through five, when children are learning about the characteristics of living things. It works specifically for life science lessons on the growth and changes in plants, and on the interdependence of living things. End matter includes information about endangered trees and how readers can help, as well as an activity, glossary, and index.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771388047
Publisher:	Kids Can Press
Publication date:	04/02/2019
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	404,929
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	IG950L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Pamela is an award-winning author of over 35 non-fiction nature books for children, including The Kids Canadian Nature Series, First Look at Nature Series, Animal Senses and Animals Hibernating. She lives in Canning, Nova Scotia.

Carolyn Gavin is a painter, illustrator and graphic designer. Her vibrant, colorful art reflects her love of nature and travel. You can find her work in books and magazines, and even on fabric. Originally from South Africa, she now lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Editorial Reviews

02/20/11

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.)

Publishers Weekly

A cogent, jauntily illustrated primer.—Kirkus Reviews

Classroom teachers, school librarians, and fans of Hickman's previous books will enjoy this lovely, informative volume.—School Library Journal

... a solid introduction to trees ...—Wall Street Journal

... lively and fun ...—San Francisco Book Review

... a clearly informative and picturesque look into the complex world of trees.—Booklist

Definitely worthy of purchase, Trees will not only serve as an excellent primer, but it will also give readers a sense of the tremendous importance of trees.—CM Magazine

[A] thoughtfully presented resource.—Publishers Weekly

A terrific resource and field guide for any budding naturalist!—Canadian Children's Book News

From the Publisher

03/01/2019

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

School Library Journal

2019-01-28

"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 conversational—but never condescending—text 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 simple—but not oversimplified—explanations 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)

Kirkus Reviews