Kids’ books about trees
(originally published on 49th shelf with new additions)
PICTURE BOOKS
Rosario’s Fig Tree
by Charis Wahl, illustrated by Luc Melanson, Groundwood Books
Author Charis Wahl’s next-door neighbour of 40 years inspired this story of Rosario, an older Italian man with a thriving vegetable garden who astonishes one of his young neighbours with his green thumb. When Rosario decides to plant a fig tree one year, the girl and her family enjoy the squishy purple fruit it bears. But when fall comes, he mysteriously buries the tree. The girl thinks it’s dead and is amazed once again when Rosario the “garden magician” manages to bring it back to life. With witty illustrations by the award-winning Melanson, this is a lovely ode to intergenerational friendship and the magic and mystery of growing things.
The Night Gardener
by Terry Fan and Eric Fan, Simon and Schuster Canada
This fantastical and moving story of a topiary genius, who carves dragons and elephants from the branches of one neighbourhood’s trees, is the first collaboration from the award-winning brothers Terry and Eric Fan. It opens with a little boy named William, who lives in a grey and forlorn-looking orphanage on a grey and forlorn-looking street, waking up to discover someone sculpted an owl from the leaves and branches of a tree outside his window. Slowly, the mysterious gardener shapes local trees into extraordinary creatures, and the boy and his community are also transformed. A beautiful tribute to the power and possibility of nature and art.
Picture a Tree
by Barbara Reid, Scholastic Canada
Barbara Reid is a master of storytelling using her signature plasticine art, and this gorgeous picture book about the creative possibility in looking at trees is one of her classics. A tree can be so many things, she explains— “a drawing on the sky…a tunnel or an ocean….” With a combination of her colourful and detailed art and simple but evocative words, she reveals the potential in imagination and the wide-reaching influence of nature on our lives.
In the Tree House
by Andrew Larsen, illustrated by Dušan Petričić, Kids Can Press
Lots of kids have fantasized about building a fort in a tree where they can escape from the world. The young brothers in Larsen’s sweet and melancholic story manage to do just that, with the help of their father who remembers such yearning from his own childhood. The boys play cards, read comics and try to gaze at the stars, which are obscured by city lights. But the following summer, the younger brother finds himself a reluctant “king of the castle” when his big brother wants to spend his time hanging out with friends. A blackout, however, changes everything. Petričić’s rich and detailed illustrations make living in the trees high above the city streets look particularly idyllic.
Nonfiction
The Gravity Tree: the true story of a tree that inspired the world
By Anna Crowley Redding; illustrated by Yas Imamura
This charming biography of the tree that inspired Sir Isaac Newton to come up with his theory of gravity is a delightful reminder of the importance trees play in all of our lives. “A tree may seem like a rather ordinary thing,” it begins, but this tree goes on an “extraordinary journey.” The book also offers a powerful prompt to young readers who may feel too little to make a difference that even something (or someone!) small can change the world.
The Wisdom of Trees: how trees work together to form a natural kingdom
Written and illustrated by Lita Judge
This comprehensive nonfiction book looks at the ways trees communicate with one another, including deep underground using the “wood wide web,” through nurturing younger trees and helping the oldest ones in the forest. Author/illustrator Lita Judge pairs her deep research with poems in which she imagines what the trees might say if our words were their language. Extensive backmatter offers even more information to curious tree lovers.
Nature All Around: Trees
by Pamela Hickman, illustrated by Carolyn Gavin, Kids Can Press
Part of the Nature All Around series (which include Bugs and this spring’s upcoming Plants), this beautifully illustrated resource is aimed at kids 7-10 and takes an age-appropriate look at the science of trees, their life cycle, photosynthesis and respiration, leaf types and more. It will help young tree lovers identify different species around their homes and offers ideas about how kids can help protect endangered trees. Hickman uses sidebars and lists to keep the text lively and the information accessible.
Can you hear the trees talking? Discovering the Hidden Life of the Forest
by Peter Wollheben, translated by Shelley Tanaka, Greystone Kids
This young reader’s edition of The Hidden Life of Trees, an international bestseller by forester and author Peter Wollheben, explores how trees communicate with each other. Using anthropomorphism—he describes “tree classrooms,” “mother trees” and “annoyed” birches—he brings the forest to life. There are quizzes and sidebars, tons of stats and pictures and a strong message about our responsibility to preserve and foster healthy forests—both urban and otherwise.
Deep Roots: How Trees Sustain Our Planet
by Nikki Tate, Orca Books
The Orca Footprints series about environmental issues are invariably excellent, and Deep Roots is no exception. With lots of powerful photographs, fun facts and tree stories from around the world, Tate provides kids insight into how trees affect our daily lives, history, culture and how they’re in turn affected by pollution, climate change and deforestation. Sidebars titled “Try this!” suggest ideas like slathering a pine cone with peanut butter, stringing it up in front of the window and watching the birds come to dine.