Be Thankful for Trees by Harriet Ziefert & Once Upon a Forest by Pam Fong
ABOUT THE BOOK
What gives you a seat, a floor for your feet?
A place you can sit with your family to eat?
The pum-pum of a drum, a guitar’s twangy strum . . .
Tree wood makes music zing, ping, and hum.
Using lilting, rhyming couplets, this book explores the many items that are made from trees. But it doesn’t stop there! Kids will also learn about the many uses of live trees – and the environmental danger to trees posed by forest fires, floods, and deforestation. Kids are encouraged to be kind, not only to one another, but to the environment as well.
Kids will view their backyards and parks in a whole new light after going on an arboreal eco-tour in this gorgeous paean to trees.
This book is printed on responsibly sourced, 100% recycled FSC paper.
REVIEW
Be Thankful for Trees reminds readers of the many ways that trees connect to our lives. From the many products produced from trees such as paper and furniture to the natural benefits such as oxygen and shade, trees benefit people in numerous ways. The book is divided up into seven sections, with each section highlighting a specific way that trees help people. Each spread has one or two lines highlighting a product or service that trees offer to human beings or other creatures. Fitzgerald's illustrations nicely compliment the text with images of each of the things being described. And appropriately enough, the book is printed on responsibly-sourced recycled paper. What I appreciated most about this book is the list of ways that trees benefit the earth and the creatures on it. It's a reminder that the importance of trees in the lives of all of earth's creatures makes it all the more important for to manage the resource better.
ABOUT THE BOOK
This gorgeous picture book follows a helpful marmot working to save a forest recovering after a wildfire. Perfect for teaching children to practice kindness while developing an appreciation for animals and the earth.
After a fire leaves the forest smoldering, a determined marmot and her resourceful bird friend set off on a rescue mission in this beautifully illustrated, wordless story.
They clear away fallen branches and scorched bushes. They rake and dig and plant new seedlings in the earth. With determination and ingenuity, as the seasons pass, they care for the little trees by making sure they have enough water, protect their branches from the wind and snow, and keep away hungry creatures, until the trees can thrive on their own.
With a little time, care, and hope we all can help the earth.
REVIEW
The adorable illustrations in Pam Fong's Once Upon a Forest won me over immediately. In a wordless book such as this one, the illustrations are especially important. The pictures must convey both meaning and emotion, including enough details to be informative while not overwhelming the reader. This book does that quite well. Marmot is working in her garden when she notices smoke rising nearby. After watching a helicopter dump water on the fire and put it out, she rushes home to gather supplies. When she gets to the burned out area, her sorrow is almost palpable. She sets to work immediately cleaning out the burned debris and planting new trees to replace the old. She even erects a tent to stay in while she watches over the new growth. She stands watch through the fall and winter until the trees are ready to stand on their own. This tender story reminds readers of the value of kindness, hard work, and watching out for the world around us.
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