School Library Journal

Gr 2 4—Preus introduces 14 trees famous in history or legend. Some are renowned for their age, height, girth, or other physical characteristics. For example, Methuselah, a bristlecone pine in California, is more than 4000 years old, while the Tule Tree in Mexico measures 177 feet around. Others are associated with historic events such as the Tree of One Hundred Horses, which sheltered the Queen of Aragon and her soldiers during a rainstorm. The Bodhi tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment and the Major Oak, where Robin Hood and his men met in Sherwood Forest, also appear. The newest trees are those grown from seeds and taken to the moon on Apollo 14 in 1971. Each featured specimen receives a spread with several paragraphs of text plus Gibbon's charming colored pencil and watercolor illustrations. Readers who want to learn more about one or more of the tree varieties can find additional information at the book's end. Preus also suggests ways to help nurture and preserve trees. The book might be paired with titles such as Jason Chin's Redwoods (Roaring Brook, 2009) or Barbara Bash's Tree of Life (Sierra Club, 1989). It can also introduce the importance of the topic, perhaps in connection with observances such as Arbor Day or Earth Day.—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato