[In a Nutshell] (By: Joseph Anthony) [published: January, 2000]

by Joseph Anthony

Here, in luminous illustrations, is the life cycle of an oak--and how it supports life even after it is gone. An acorn drops from a great oak and grows. Animals nibble at it, a fire threatens it, but overcoming many challenges it eventually towers high in the forest, observing the changing human scene below. Eventually its energy passes into many other life forms--even the cherry pie enjoyed by the boy in the house below.

Genres: Picture Books, Science, Childrens, Nature, Plants

Paperback

First published August 1, 1999

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

I was raised in Denver, Colorado, the tenth of eleven children. My family spent a great deal of time in the mountains, where exploring with my brothers and sisters nurtured an innate love for adventure and an appreciation for the natural world. I also loved music, and before graduating from high school I found myself exploring the states as a trumpet player in a swing band. Soon after, I hitch-hiked to the vast frontier of Alaska.

After attending St. John's College in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Annapolis, Maryland, I traveled to Finland to live on a farm and hitch-hike through Scandanavia. I continued to travel - through over 30 countries in the western hemisphere - as a musician in the U.S. Navy. I have since worked in a natural food store, as a corrections officer, a massage therapist, and a construction supervisor, experiences which have all served to deepen my self-understanding and perspective on the human condition.

The synthesis of my experiences came after marrying artist Cris Arbo, when I took up writing. Inspired by raising children, our first collaboration was 'The Dandelion Seed' in 1997; two years later 'In A Nutshell' was published. Cris' artwork blends fantasy and realism with intense detail, a combination that works perfectly with my text.

A sequel to 'The Dandelion Seed', entitled 'The Dandelion Seed's Big Dream' was published in 2014. It not only follows the seed's heroic journey but hints at humanity's growing awareness of our role as environmental stewards.

My young adult novel, 'Innerworld' (Bonneville Books, 2002), is about a girl whose desire to change the world sends her on an earth-shattering journey within.

My own journey took me to the limits of the universe, which I have detailed in a paper entitled "Our Multi-Tiered Universe", and which you can read about on my 'cosmology' page.

MORE

For a tiny bit more biographical information, Cris and I can be found in the library reference source, 'Something About The Author' vol.103, published by The Gale Research Group.

Reviews

[Ashley Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to teach life cycles. Beautiful pictures.

[Tori Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book for my entire elementary school career. It answered a lot of my questions about life and death and eased my anxiety about the aspects of those things that couldn't be answered.

[Gduclayan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a wonderful, straight-forward, science-based, unsentimental, yet deep book for children about dealing with death (and life) and what death (and life) means.

[Ecsf]

Rachel

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a part of a very special outing with Evan on a storywalk at Mt Agamenticus

[Haley Lathrop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely terrific!!! Great book for children of all ages! Illustrations are phenomenal! Would be a good idea to use this book for a science lesson on the plant life cycle.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter was captivated by the story and rich details in the illustrations. I thought the story unfolded nicely. It was a pleasure to read.

[Rachel Barclay]

A simple look into lifecycle

[CFAITC]

This book offers a look into the ecological cycle of an acorn tree and its impact on mankind.

[Laura Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations. Nice story of the cycle of an acorn to oak tree and beyond.