Nature All Around: Trees

Watercolor and gouache illustrations with a light-handed contemporary sensibility enliven a straightforward and comprehensive introduction to U.S. and Canadian trees. Essentials such as tree structure, the difference between deciduous and evergreen trees, leaf morphology, and how trees breathe, eat, and pollinate are all explained in direct, accessible text. Seasonally themed spreads cover why leaves fall and how maple syrup is made, while others illuminate interesting tree behaviors, such as the fact that cold nights might actually cause trees to crack with a bang. Varied text formats—sidebars, lists, and asides—make it easy to absorb all this information, and sections on beginner tree watching, forest regions, and strange trees (among them the manchineel and its “death apples”) offer alternate pathways to engage attention. A glossary and index conclude this thoughtfully presented resource. Ages 7–10. (Apr.)