The Gift of the Tree: A Beautifully Illustrated Story About Nature's Cycle of Life and Death for Kids

by Alvin Tresselt, Henri Sorensen (Illustrator)

Award-winning author Alvin Tresselt's classic story about the cycle of life is beautifully illustrated and an excellent resource for families. The Gift of the Tree reveals the role of an ancient oak tree in the cycle of nature as it dies and returns to the earth, providing nourishment for new life all around it. Originally published in 1972 under the title The Dead Tree , this story about the cycle of nature has never been more timely. Henri Sorensen’s exquisite paintings for this reillustrated edition capture all the beauty and power of the tree’s transformations. As School Library Journal "The interdependence of plant and animal life is clearly evident, including both those that seek its shelter and those that hasten the decaying process to prepare the soil for new life. The original text stands the test of time, reaching its audience with power and emotion as it directs attention to the forces of nature at work."

Genres: Picture Books, Science, Nature, Childrens, School, Death, 2nd Grade

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Alvin Tresselt (1916-2000) was born in New Jersey. He was an editor for Humpty Dumpty magazine and an executive editor for Parent’s Magazine Press before becoming an instructor and the Dean of Faculty for the Institute of Children’s Literature in Connecticut. He wrote over thirty children’s books, selling over a million copies. Although White Snow, Bright Snow won the Caldecott Medal in 1948, his best-known book is a retelling of the Ukranian folk tale The Mitten. Tresselt was a pioneer in children’s writing, well known for his poetic prose style. He created the “mood” picture book, in which the setting and description for a story was even more important than the characters and plot.
Memoria Press First Grade Enrichment Guide

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book, part of my 2nd grade curricula. I need to write a longer review. A great book for fall, the cycle of seasons, and the life cycle of trees. Moving to see how, during a large tree's very long life, all of the ways it contributes to nature: food and shelter for animals & insects; shelter/shade for humans; oxygen; to name but a few. After it falls, a tree continues to add to the ecosystem, too: nutrients to the soil; a base for fungi to grow upon; homes for different animals and insects; wood to be carted off and used.

Some of the concepts are a bit over the heads of some second graders. However, the upper level vocabulary can be gone over before reading, and a competent teacher can paraphrase certain tricky sections of the book. The story (fictional, yet full of factual information), contains a lot of emotions as readers learn to value the tree.

I do remember most of the kiddos crying at the ending: my little nature-lovers with big hearts. (I may inadvertently have influenced more than one student over the years to become a tree hugger, like me!)

A good extension activity, during animal science units or plant science units, is to give students a printed page with a black and white drawing of a large tree with many branches. Based on their acquired knowledge from these units, they can choose a season add details to represent it: such as flowers & buds in spring, green leaves in summer, changing-color leaves in fall, OR bare branches in winter. (I'm in North America, east coast, so this was the seasonal cycle for our area). They can also draw in likely animals & insects that would make this tree their habitat.

[midnightfaerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this book. The paintings were beautiful and detailed and it went through the stages of how trees return to the earth after they die. Just an absolutely beautiful book about the cycle of life and so descriptive! I could almost smell the loam! We like geocaching in our house (geocaching.com) and we've taken many walks in the woods and have used fallen trees like this for caching. It was a perfect conversation starter about caching and hiding caches and what we love about forests for me and my 5 yr old son. Just an overall wonderful book, I'd really like to add this one to my collection.

[Stephanie]

This simple story of the long life and death cycle of an ancient tree was beautifully written and illustrated. I realize that its purpose was to teach children about the life and death cycles of nature in a way they'd easily understand, but I was very touched by it, and very sad at the end.
More sad than I had expected to be even though I am a very sentimental person.There was something about the story of the noble tree and all the things it had seen in its long life, to its demise to eventual return to loam on the ground that was just heartbreaking to me.
I want to read more of the author's books.

[Cassandra Lemieux · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. Summary: The Gift of the Tree talks about a tree that lives through many different seasons, and how many animals used it for their own survival. The tree provides homes, food and shelter from storms and every animal uses it for something different. One day however, the tree falls but you will have to read in order to find out if it is still beneficial to all the plants and animals!
2. Grade level: k-1
3. subject: Science
4. Individual students who may benefit: Younger students who are fascinated by habitats and animals would really enjoy this book
5. Small group: I would like for students to use this book for small groups. I would like to break students off into groups and have them explain the many different ways the tree is useful to its surroundings. I would also like them to identify the habitat and where this tree probably lives. I think it is a great informational resource when talking about habitats and even seasons
6. whole class use: I would probably read this book aloud when talking about habitats and seasons
7. Related books: "The Mitten" "Hide and Seek Frog"
8. multimedia: n/a

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating look at the maturation and the end of the life cycle of a tree. It has a very similar storyline as Cactus Hotel by Brenda Z. Guiberson, although with an obviously very different climate and environment. The illustrations are wonderful and we enjoyed pointing out all the different creatures we saw. It's a good book that helps children learn more about nature and how even when a tree or plant dies, it still serves to feed and nurture the surrounding earth and wildlife.

[Lili · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might have been my favorite book when I was a child, it could very well be the book that truly unlocked my love of mushrooms and forests. I remember reading (actually it was read to me) it first that I cried, my four (possibly younger?) year old self was so distraught at the death of the beautiful tree. The farther into the book I went the more I saw, thanks to informative texts and beautiful illustrations that the tree never truly dies, it gives life to the forest around it and nourishes its saplings.

This is a beautiful book, a perfect way of introducing nature to a child. My original copy is long lost, but I can still see the illustrations clearly in my head. It left a very strong impression.

[Lauren]

This book follows the life and death of a big oak tree. It goes from being the strongest tree to just a brown patch of fertilizer.
This would be good for fourth or fifth grades to show them the life cycles of everything.
Students who are struggling with science could benefit from this because it is information in the form of a story, which may be how they learn better.
In small groups, they can show the life cycle of a butterfly or frog and sow how it relates to the tree.
In a larger group, the class can discuss the relationship between the animals and tree.
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is similar but more suited to younger children. There is no movie based on this, but it can be related to Lion King’s Circle of Life if it helps.

[Cana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the same book as The Dead Tree, which we also checked out of the library on the same day, but with new illustrations. (I made Mommy read both. We liked this one better.) A lovely and calming story of how a tree returns to the earth.

[Kristiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many books that discuss the lifecycle of trees. But this one reads much different. It’s less story and more poetry. Which is lovely. Also, instead of focusing on what a tree brings in its life, it talks about what the tree provides by its death. Overall, it’s a beautiful tribute to the cycle of life.
Although, I will say my 8yo didn’t love it. Maybe one day.

[Robert Tate Morrison]

Read this for 1st graders yesterday and this is a delightful book. Beautiful words. Beautiful illustrations. I love this and will buy it for my kids.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful picture book detailing the life cycle of a tree and the many flora and fauna that benefit from it, both in its life and in its death.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review below image.


This is on out book list for Memoria Press. (Off the top of my head I'm not sure if it's for First or Second, but I believe it is in the Second Grade Classical Core Curriculum). Alvin Tresselt is not new to our bookshelf. Not is he new in recommendation by Memoria Press Classical Core curriculum. We also have Hide and Seek Fog and White Snow, Bright Snow both also Memoria Press primary literature read alouds as well as Rain, Drop, Splash which is apparently his first success tests on our shelf. We're reading this tonight to go along with our Forest for the Trees unit study, but I look forward to costing it again when we reach it in our studies next year.

Apparently this is a republished story originally titled The Dead Tree (1972) now renamed The Gift of the Tree giving it much more positive outlook as well as fresh (1992) painting illustrations bring the wood habitat to life focusing on one tree.

It's educational and lovely talking about the seasons, life span of a tree, and all the creatures that rely on it. A good recommendation from both Memoria Press and specifically HomeschoolLegacy's Forest for the Trees unit study.

I bought this used library book from ThriftBooks.com. I have an affiliate on my blog if you're so inclined.

posted: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2...

[Luisa Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alvin Tresselt is a dynamic author, with lush descriptions and meaningful word choices. Definitely an author whose books are worth collecting.

Learn the life cycle of an oak tree and how it helps the other animals and plants in their development too.

Ages: 5 - 10

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[Abby Peskin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is beautifully illustrated, and a very accurate depiction of what happens to a tree throughout its lifetime and how its energy gets recycled back into the earth.

As a side note, this book was recommended to me as a book to read to children to teach about death in people. I really would not recommend using this book for that purpose. Using plant metaphors for animal death is very difficult because plants go through phases that look more like plant death (i.e., during winter) and then they come back. This doesn't happen for people, and trying to make that metaphor work is usually at best misguided, and at worst will make the bereaved child sit around waiting for their dead loved one to come out of hibernation.

[Cana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the same book as The Gift of the Tree, which we also checked out of the library on the same day, but this is the old version with old illustrations. (I made Mommy read both. We liked the other one better.) A lovely and calming story of how a tree returns to the earth.

[Alexandra Chauran · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has beautiful art with equally lovely prose. The story about the dead tree returning to the earth teaches about ecology and would also be a great way to start talking to kids about death without it being creepy or painful.

[Chanelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why, but I love this book.

[TG · Rating 5 out of 5]

peaceful

[Gregory Rothbard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Greatly illustrated, it tells the story of life and death, and the natural order of things.

[Buxmont Uu]

EWTWOL Trees

[wildct2003 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picture book story of a tree at the end of its years and what happens to it. Focuses on how it is used by critters.

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with Naomi.

[Jeanette Hargreaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book about the cycle of life. Good to read to children around times of death.

[Tabitha Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was alright, I would not read it to littler children because only the colors would grasp their attention. The message is meant for older children for them to learn to appreciate nature.

[Daniel Nelms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read aloud this picture book to my kids. Good for what it is.

[Vrinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, simple children’s book with lots of important yet subtly presented info about animal habitat and cycles of life

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

The text doesn’t flow very well due to sentence fragments, awkward commas, and similar problems that could have been easily solved with better editing. I would recommend reading it to yourself first before reading it out loud to anyone else so that you can modify your delivery to make more sense than the text on the page does. (I’m making it sound worse than it actually is, maybe. Don’t let my annoyance with the textual choices make you afraid of picking up this book.)

But the illustrations! The illustrations make the frustrations with the text completely worth it. They’re lovely and detailed. Flipping through this book reminds me so much of growing up in the country in West Michigan. Very nicely done.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I probably would have given this a 4, but my 8-year-olds gave it a 5, and they are the intended audience. It is a very “circle of life” look at the slow demise of a grand old oak tree. I did wish for more of the life of the tree, but the book begins at the end of its life, and explains what happens to it to break it down but by bit, each small thing contributing to its final return to the earth. The illustrations are beautiful, and the favorites were the ones showing some wildlife with the tree.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an excellent science resource with plenty of wildlife, which explains the life cycle of a tree and it's relationship to animals, plants, and insects. However, it's a bit long-winded, so it's not great for children under 4, since there's not much of a story line.

[jennifer]

Not all the books from my childhood hold up but this one does. Vivid and poetic and evocative.