The Secret Life of Trees: Explore the forests of the world, with Oakheart the Brave: Volume 1

By Author / Illustrator

Moira Butterfield, Vivian Mineker

Genre

Environment

Age range(s)

Publisher

Aurum Press

ISBN

9780711250017

Format

Hardback

Published

18-08-2020

Synopsis

Take in the knowledge and wisdom of a wise old oak tree as he shares with beautiful illustrations, science facts and folk tales what he has learned in his 500 years on earth.

My arms stretch out all day long.
I can be climbed,
but I'm not a mountain.
What am I?
I am Oakheart,
the oldest tree in the forest!

Did you know that trees can talk to each other? Or that the oldest living thing is a tree? Let the ancient and mysterious Oakheart, the oldest and wisest tree in the forest, lead you through this enchanting guide to trees.

In The Secret Life of Trees, Oakheart the Brave shares his own experiences as well as what he has heard on the wind and the things whispered to him by animals over his long life, beginning with his start as a tiny acorn buried underground by a mouse. Learn all about: How trees grow and survive; The different parts of trees, inside and out, and what they do; The many different types of forests and trees of the world; The tallest, oldest, biggest and widest trees; The creatures and organisms that depend on trees; Why trees are so important to humans; Tips on how to help trees thrive; Tree folklore from around the world

This collection of delightful traditional stories and engaging facts will impart a love of nature, and inspire you to look after the world around you. Whimsical and detailed illustrations have pride of place in magical tales that mix natural history with a splash of fantasy, creating a book that you will pore over time and again.

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Reviews

With outdoor learning fast becoming the way forward in primary education, this fabulous book should be in every classroom.

The Secret Life of Trees, written by Moira Butterfield and illustrated by Vivian Mineker Chen, has a little bit of everything you might want to know as a a young arboriculturist.

While one might rightly assume this is a non-fiction book, full of tree-related facts, it also contains a selection of short folklore stories such as the tale of The Sky-high tree from Hungary and the story of the Banyan tree from India, which will no doubt delight many newly independent readers.

Accompanied by detailed, colourful illustrations, this selection of interesting tree facts is written using clear, concise child-friendly language, ideal for a first school project. Each double page spread focuses on a different aspect of trees; how a tree grows, what it looks like and why, and how the reader can help reduce deforestation and become a tree friend.

This collection of stories and interesting facts will undoubtedly encourage a love of nature, and inspire its reader to look a little more closely at the world around us.

A super gift for any enthusiastic, young, outdoor adventurer.

48 pages / Ages 8+ / Reviewed by Sam Phillips, teacher