Book Bundles: I Think That I Shall Never See...

(3) K-3 Imagine This! series. Illustrated by Nic Jones. A tree in a boreal forest offers food and shelter for animals, nutrients for the soil, and more during its lifetime. When fire, pests, storms, or disease kill a tree, Bissonette explains, the tree continues to be a valuable resource in the forest. "The tree, now in its second life, hums with activity--animals nesting and looking for food." As the tree decomposes further, it enriches the soil and supports new growth. Jones's lush forest scenes are detailed but not cluttered; the informative main text is enhanced by related information in smaller type on many pages. Bissonette talks about her personal connection to trees in an author's note. Things to consider when "Exploring Snags and Fallen Logs" and suggested reading are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Turine Tran. Pando, a massive aspen grove in Utah, is "one of the biggest / living things in the world." The forty-seven thousand trees on 106 acres are linked through their root system, which surfaces and produces "clone" trees. The spare free-verse text introduces readers to this natural wonder, estimated to be twelve thousand years old. Fox effectively provides context for the massive numbers (e.g. Pando's size and age) to aid in comprehension. Particular attention is paid to how human behavior has changed Pando's environment and is threatening the organism's survival. Matching the text's reverence, Tran's delicately rendered illustrations glow with rich browns, golds, and greens. A glossary, "How You Can Help," and a bibliography are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Nicole Wong. A pear tree that survived the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City has become a symbol of hope in adversity. Magee's respectful, lyrical text follows the tree's story through the seasons from its discovery as "something green among the ashes," to its regrowth off-site, to its replanting at Ground Zero ten years later. Wong's softly textured illustrations incorporate a wordless fictional story, told via inset panels, featuring a mixed-race girl and her family (including an FDNY firefighting relative); their lives parallel the tree's resilience. Both text and art present events soberly but with a young audience in mind; the girl's reassuring story helps temper more scary aspects. "More About the Survivor Tree's Journey," an author's note, and selected bibliography are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn