RHYTHM of BREEZES BUSTLING THROUGH TREES part 1
“Trees are poems the earth writes upon the sky.”
– Kahil Gibran
I am a Dendrophile, someone who loves trees and forests, and enjoy psithurism, the sound of wind in the trees and the rustling leaves.
There are many fiction and nonfiction picture books about trees that children will delight in and learn from. In parts 1 and 2 of this blog I will introduce you to four of these books. I have also included my (adult) go-to book for wonder and peace, on forest bathing.
In The Great Kapok Tree author/illustrator Lynne Cherry used colored pencil and watercolor to depict the lushness and detail of the plants and animals of the tropical rain forest, and how “all living things depend on each other.”
This modern fable describes the community of birds and animals that live among the leaves and branches of the great Kapok tree in the tropical rain forest.
A man appears and begins to chop the Kapok tree, then tires and falls asleep at the base of the tree.
Each page is gorgeously detailed and brightly colored, as each critter, from snake and bee to 3-toed sloth and jaguar, whisper in the man’s ear the consequences to themselves, future generations, and the environment, if he chops down the Kapok tree.
A Yanomamo child who lived in the rain forest whispered in his ear that when he awoke he would look upon them all with new eyes.
When the man awoke, he picked up his ax, looked at the silent animals staring at him, and walked away.
Children will appreciate the birds and animals in their natural habitat, the rain forest. The illustrations are so realistic that they almost move off the page. Their messages are crucial, and in this context, easy for a child to understand.
Lynne Cherry, author and illustrator of The Great Kapok Tree, traveled to the Amazon Rain Forest in Brazil to research the illustrations for this book. She is an American writer/illustrator of nature-themed children’s books. Ms. Cherry is the Founder and Director of the non-profit Young Voices for the Planet, an organization dedicated to helping voices of environmentally concerned young people be heard. She is also a movie producer, most often of short films for Young Voices for the Planet, featuring success stories.
I have listed a few of the many books Ms. Cherry has written and illustrated:
- Flute’s Journey: the Life of the Wood Thrush. about bird migration
- A River Ran Wild. discusses the clean-up of the Nashua River in MA
- How Groundhog’s Garden Grew. Inspires young children to grow their own gardens and be thankful for its bounty.
- The Dragon and the Unicorn. “a stirring environmental story, lavishly illustrated. An original fairy tale about preserving old-growth forests.”
For more information on Lynne Cherry’s Books and Movies, visit her beautiful and fascinating website http://www.lynnecherry.com/index.htm
When I am Among the Trees
Mary Oliver
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness.
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,
“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.”
The Magic and Mystery of Trees, written by Jen Green, and illustrated by Claire McElfatrick, is a rich introduction to the world of trees, from their highest branches to the complex “wood wide web” of their roots. This book is packed with fun facts and amazing information.
Claire McElfatrick used a vibrant mix of hand-drawn illustration, collage and digital techniques to depict the various trees, habitats and the tiny details of every critter.
We learn how trees eat – by photosynthesis. We discover that trees connect through their root system, called the “wood wide web”. This book discusses the parts of a tree and how to tell its age, tree habitats, that trees have senses, what causes their destruction, and how we can help them. Children learn the importance of trees to the earth.
There are fun activities for kids, such as , how to plant your own tree and care for it, and how to measure a tree’s age. This is a great resource to use to create a quiz or a scavenger hunt on trees.
This comprehensive book concludes with a list of National and state trees and a comprehensive glossary.
When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and seeds of hope.
– Dr. Wangari Maathai
Jen Green is a British author of over 300 nonfiction books for children and adults. Many of her books concern geography, the environment, history, and natural history.
She is known for her “Why Should I” series of books, for example,
Why Should I Recycle
Why Should I Save Water
Why Should I Save Energy
She has also written several science activity books for children, for example,
The Incredible Science Activity Book. You can learn how to plant a tree and care for it, measure its age, and how to help trees.
Claire McElfatrick’s illustrations for The Magic and Mystery of Trees were inspired by her home in rural England. She skillfully utilized a mix of vibrant hand-drawn illustration, collage and digital technique.
