The Tree

by Dana Lyons

Book Overview

There is a river flowing near me, and I've watched that river change and grow. For eight hundred years I have lived here, through the wind, the fire, and the snow. This powerful song of an ancient... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0439449251
• ISBN13: 9780439449250
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Stunning and profound

The Tree is so beautifully illustrated that it is a book children will instinctively reach for on the bookstore shelf. The story is simple, but profound, the haunting song of an ancient Douglas fir, living its life-cycle in the Pacific Rain Forest, speaking to the connection between all things on Earth: "For eight hundred years I have lived here/ through the wind, the fire and the snow." The sacredness of nature permeates this world, until the sound of encroaching bulldozers disturbs the quiet beauty of generations, threatening the destruction of a fragile environment. The sanctuary of young owls learning to fly, the roaming grizzlies and the lone wolf, all are threatened by the advance of civilization into the pristine forest. Watching all, the tree asks, "Who will hold that river's shore? And who will take refuge in my shadow, if my shadow falls no more?" In the end, the tree hears the voices of children, their hands circling its trunk, their feet climbing the branches to peer on the others below. And the tree believes "the wind may always carry my song". The most eloquent argument made for the preservation of the delicate forest environment is found in the beauty of that sacred place, nature's repository. And the stunning illustrations deliver that message, powerful in their subtle beauty, profound in the silence of centuries. Each page requires a quiet moment of reflection, gazing upon the wonders revealed, a lone wolf howling beneath a luminous moon, clouds scudding through a night sky, an eagle perched on a high branch, the sky fractured by bursts of lightning, frightened animals fleeing before the rampaging bulldozers. Rainforests are one of the most significant ecosystems on the planet, home to a variety of species and plants, cleaning the air and replenishing the water. The best way to teach our children to value nature's rich bounty lies in appealing to their hearts and minds, planting the seeds of appreciation for all the earth has to offer. In the most straight forward language, The Tree speaks the truth on every page, images that are striking and intense. In the back of the book, a page is devoted to the Pacific Rain Forest, explaining nature's delicate balance and some essential facts. In this manner, more information is available without spoiling the stark beauty and simplicity of the story. This remarkable book is essential to a child's nature library, the interest, curiosity and hope for the future of this planet. Luan Gaines/2005.

A charming, ecology-minded picturebook tale

Deftly written by Dana Lyons, The Tree is beautifully illustrated by David Danioth and is enthusiastically recommended as an engaging, impressive, full color picturebook for beginning readers. This is a truly memorable story about the joy a tree feels giving life, shade, sustenance, and comfort. Yet the threat of human expansion and destruction could destroy the tree, unless humans band together to save it. A brief postscript with facts about the Pacific rainforest rounds out this charming, ecology-minded picturebook tale.

Outstanding publication!

The Tree absolutely captivates the reader, whether he/she be an adult or youth. I have been using it in classrooms, and the kids find it fascinating to pour over the illustrations while at the same time absoribing the message. This is definitely a perfect tool for anyone interested in environmental education but is also great entertainment. I will definitely pass this book on to my children, grandchildren and so on.

I cannot recommend this one highly enough!

***** Wow! Looking at the cover of this new book from Illumination Arts is like standing at the base of a giant tree, tilting your head backward, and looking toward the heavens. The scope is powerful and compelling, and the colors are breath-taking.This story is told from the perspective of an 800-year-old Douglas fir in the Pacific Rain Forest. The Tree tells of its history and the many things it has seen over its lifetime, as well as the wildlife it has seen and sheltered. Each illustration is so realistic that it feels possible to reach in and touch the rocks or to actually hear the babble of tumbling water, experence the flash of lightning, and tremble at the mighty roar of a bear. Children will also enjoy finding the many tiny surprises hidden within the pictures: A Butterfly, Dragonfly, Spotted Owl, Tree Frog, Mouse, Bald Eagle, Bark Beetle, and many others.At the end of the story, there is an informative page about the Pacific Rain Forest that impressed me a great deal. After reading that page, I asked several children what country came to mind when they heard the words rain forests. Most of them mentioned Africa and one or two said South America. They envisioned a tropical climate with hot, humid jungles, big broadleaf plants, monkeys, and brightly colored birds. None of them knew that there was such a place as the Pacific Rain Forest right here in the United States. A temperate rain forest that is cool and wet, filled mostly with cone bearing trees, and stretches along the coast from Southern Oregon to the Gulf of Alaska. I cannot say enough good things about The Tree. I highly recommend it as a book to be treasured and reread for years to come. It entertains the reader while teaching a love for nature's delicate balance and the urgency to act now in order to save our valuable forests from disappearing forever. Read it with a child and enjoy the light in his eyes as he searches its pages for each of the tiny surprises...