Earth Day is coming. People often try different crafts and such to celebrate with kids. I like books that help us teach kids about nature and taking care of it. Today we are sharing a new picture book about the relationship between trees. The book is called The Mother Tree by Sybil Rosen and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
About the Book:
In this picture book celebrating the power that even the smallest of us have to protect the natural world, a kid saves the most important tree in the forest from being chopped down."The mother tree feeds the younger trees through their roots," Momma explains to Sadie on their morning walk. They've arrived at Sadie's favorite tree: a mother tree, an ancient beech, with a trunk as thick as an elephant's leg. Sadie is amazed by all the work it does in the hidden world beneath the soil.
But days later, Sadie sees an orange circle spray-painted on the beech. When Momma tells her this means loggers are going to chop it down, Sadie is distraught. Is there anything she can do to save her beloved mother tree?
Filled with lush artwork, this picture book is a moving reminder that, though healing our Earth will take time, standing up for one majestic tree is a great way to start.
From Me:
In this book, Sadie and her mother live in a forest. They love walking in the forest. They notice things like new fungi (mushrooms) and Sadie even keeps a nature journal where she draws pictures of things they see. She loves an old beech tree. It is a mother tree or a tree that shares some of its resources with the younger trees around it. One day when they are on a walk, they see orange circles spray painted on the trees. Sadie's mother explains that these trees are marked to be cut down for the lumber. Sadie is very sad. She thinks about all the other creatures who live and depend on the trees. Then she sees the circle on the old beech tree. She wants to do whatever she can to save the mother tree. She first starts an angry note but uses the other side asking them to save the tree since it is so important to the community. After the trees are cut down, they walk through the stumps and see the old beech still standing.
There are so many things to love about this book. It shares about how the trees take in the carbon dioxide we breathe out and give us the oxygen we need to live. It shares the theory of a mother tree. It also shows how one young girl made a difference. She put forth a request and the company honors it. She saves her favorite tree! It is a book about trees that is meant to teach the reader about them and about how we all need to work to protect our forests.
At the back of the book, there is a note about what more we can do. It shares how even children can fight for nature. It also explains more about mother trees and how this is a theory some scientists believe happens. It is a wonderful resource for a unit on trees!
