During Monday’s Ask The Artist with Bruce Lyndon Cunningham, Bruce introduced us to his user-friendly guide to North American gymnosperms. While the guide created by Dr. Elray S. Nixon and Bruce can be used by beginning and experienced naturalists, what about the very youngest of naturalists? Are there books just for them? A teacher in the audience asked these questions on Monday.
Three books were shared with webinar participants.
Here are quick reviews of each…
Trees, Leaves, and Bark (Take-Along Guide)
Author: Diane L. Burns
Illustrator: Linda Garrow
An introduction to some of the trees growing in prairies, woodlands, swamps, and mountains. Each tree profile has information about how to find a tree, background into the tree’s lifespan and uses, and information about a tree’s leaves, bark, and seeds. The following activities are included in this book: Make a Leaf Mobile, Make a Pinecone Snackbar, Grow Your Own Tree, Make a Bark Rubbing.
Grade: 4-6, Age: 9-11
The Tree Book: For Kids and Their Grown-ups
Author: Gina Ingoglia
Illustrator: Gina Ingoglia
What goes on inside cones? Where does fruit come from? How do trees eat and drink? The answers to these questions can be found in this comprehensive resource created by Gina Ingoglia, the author of 80 childrens books, a landscape designer, and the vice president of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Florilegium Society. After introducing young naturalists (and their grown-ups) to tree biology and tree identification, Ingoglia profiles 33 trees that are easily observed in neighborhoods, botanical gardens, or the local arboretum. Each tree profile is composed of background information about a tree, its growth, and the proper pronunciation of its scientific name. Like the plant names in our pocket dictionary, each species name is written out phonetically. Tree profiles also include a whole plant illustration and illustrations of leaves, flowers, fruit, leaf buds, needles, bark, and branches. If a characteristic is important to a tree’s identification, Ingoglia includes an illustration of this characteristic.
Grade: 3-4, Age: 8-9
Stikky Trees
Laurency Holt Books
This clever introduction to trees lives up to the philosophy of “teach less, better.” Authors propose a four-step approach to becoming familiar with 15 trees commonly found in the United States. Actually, the “steps” are learning sequences, each dedicated to a specific topic and each building upon what was learned in the previous sequence. This book is fun for both children and adults. View an interactive demo on the publisher’s website.
Do you have a favorite book about trees?
Teachers, tell us what you use in your classroom.
Parents, tell us how you have introduced your children to trees.
Fellow Plant Enthusiasts, which helpful books about trees do you have in your library?
ArtPlantae Today 
A Log’s Life (1997)
Author: Wendy Pfeffer
Illustrator: Robin Brickman
What happens when an oak tree falls down in the forest? Learn what happens when a tree decays and becomes home to various creatures. Learn more about this book and how Robin Brickman creates her illustrations using paper, paint, and scissors here.
Trees Are Terrific! (1998)
Author: National Wildlife Federation, Ranger Rick’s Nature Scope
Chapters begin with primary activities and end with intermediate or advanced activities. Suggested age groups are: Primary (K-2), Intermediate (grades 3-5), Advanced (grades 6-8). Each chapter contains 2 to 8 activities and worksheets teachers can print out. Activities address tree morphology, how to key out trees, tree biology, forest ecology, forest management, and the roles trees play in human lives. Out of print.
From the Facebook page:
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein