Sky Tree - Seeing Science Through Art

by Thomas Locker

For use in schools and libraries only. Uses text and oil paintings of a solitary tree during the different seasons and the rising and setting of the sun to challenge readers on the relationship between art and science.

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Science, Nature, Childrens, Nonfiction, School

Paperback

First published September 1, 1995

About the author

Thomas Locker was one of the major American painters of the past century. In a career that spanned almost 60 years, he had over 75 solo exhibitions. His work ranged from the delicate to the monumental, but all had one thing in common: the beauty of the natural world. He had a deep appreciation for the elusive link between the human spirit and the sublime force of nature.

He spent his entire life in service to his two great passions: painting and nature. Through widespread exhibition of his artwork and publication of his illustrated children’s books, Mr. Locker touched the hearts and minds of countless people.

Mr. Locker’s early paintings were poetic landscapes. Dr. Joshua C. Taylor, former director of the National Collection of Fine Arts for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., wrote, "Although Locker’s landscapes are not glimpses of a new Arcadia, the quotation from the past re-emphasizes their cerebral play. They call attention less to Nature than to the complex intermingling of perception and thought in the mind of man. Suddenly, seeing becomes thinking, and thinking a delight to the age."

In 1982, Thomas Locker’s career took on a new and even broader dimension. In an effort to connect with a wider audience and educate younger minds, he began work on his first children’s picture book, Where the River Begins. Today, Mr. Locker’s exceptional paintings and illustrations grace the pages of some 30 different books, several of which he also wrote. These unique books have been honoured with numerous awards, including the prestigious Christopher Award, the John Burroughs Award, and the New York Times Award for best illustration.

Thomas Locker’s landscapes have a quality all their own. His years of experimentation and research into the glazing techniques and paint chemistry of traditional European painting have enabled him to achieve a new vision of the traditional for a non-traditional age.

His books have received many awards, including the John Burroughs Young Reader Award, NCTE Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts, NSTA-CBS Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, the Christopher Award, and others.

http://www.rmichelson.com/Artist_Page...

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Thomas Locker’s illustrations. And this is a great book about the life cycle of a tree in simple text and thoughtful questions.

[Ammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I. Need. This. Book. By far one of the best seasonal, tree books ever. Gorgeous illustrations and love the picture study questions throughout.

[Becky Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely on my purchase list. Each page has a new view of the same tree, on the same hill, yet each page is striking and thoughtful.

[Turrean · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous series of pictures takes the reader through a year on what looks like a New England hillside. It's not a story; rather, it is a jumping-off-point to discuss the science of the changing seasons (plants! animals! weather! patterns!) as well as how the artist creates color, movement, mood, and change over time. Works as a read-aloud / read-along for elementary classrooms; even better when kids have a chance to examine Locker's illustrations up close.

[Cindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really into these books by Thomas Locker lately. His paintings are a feast for the eyes. This book in particular pictures the seasons with changes in the sky and a tree on a hilltop. Not totally realistic and so it allows imagination and of course, the beauty draws you in. Each page features a question about the artwork or the season to get kids (or adults) thinking.

[Shaeley Santiago · Rating 3 out of 5]

One interesting aspect of this book is that the paintings are all of the same tree just during different seasons and in different weather conditions. In addition to the text, there are questions to get you thinking about each of the paintings and then additional information about the artistic techniques at the back of the book.

holiday #bookaday

[Margaret Chind · Rating 5 out of 5]

I already knew we'd enjoy another Thomas Locker book after our introduction to his poetic paintings with science details. This rings true again for Sky Tree. It's a library book that we just need to add to our wish list.

[DJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was unsure about the contents of the book, going in blind. But once I saw it was less than 50 pages, I figured it was going to be simple.
The visuals of the trees were quite nice, and reminded me of the kinds of books I would have read in my childhood. There was a lot less science and more art to me, since it's the poetic painting collection of a tree year-round, but I felt wistful and nostalgic reading this book.

It wasn't revolutionary or anything, but it provided a nice atmosphere for the reader. This one is great for kids.

[Candance Doerr-Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

A blend of art, science, and narrative memoir. I appreciate the prompts on each page.

“When you look at this painting of the tree on a hill, can you remember how you felt on a perfect summer day.”

I could see this being paired with a “hard eyes & soft eyes” writing activity

Used: Lend from JCashman Collection.

[Leah Hahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows the sequence of the seasons through paintings of the same tree. The book ends with the the author asking questions like "This is the same tree in the same place. What makes this painting different?"

I thought this was a very informational book with great illustrations.

[Sasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those "butterface" books - I really didn't grasp the message, target audience (way too verbose and circuitous for kids), strange bottom-of-the-page quotes and questions, and philosophical bents. But! The pictures sure are purty.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beauty, creation, science and art combine to teach the cycle of an adult deciduous tree throughout a year. What a lovely addition to a science lesson or to simple grow the wonders of creation anytime.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of a new author obsession! Thomas Locker books are perfect for my classroom!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! Pictures the same tree through all seasons.

[Jec · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful illustrations....excellent resource to combine reading, art, and science.

[H. Givens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the art, although the discussion questions and info at the end are definitely teaching more about art -- how moods are created and the physicalities of oil painting -- than science. :)

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. Thought provoking. Lovely read with my kiddos.

[Eadrinor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations show the changing seasons and teach how the weather changes the ecosystem.

[Hunter Higashionna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had amazing illustrations and shows the seasons, weather, and time shown through art and a single tree.

[Noelani · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great way to teach the coming and going of seasons through the use of art. Thomas Locker is amazing with his use of illustrations.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful art.

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful art!
Love the connections to science.
Includes amazing back matter info

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

would be great for picture study. text is a bit lacking (beautiful, just not much of it), but it would be great to pair with a science lesson/nature study

[Erin Hatch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for science! I liked how each page had a question about the picture, and helped my kids really look and observe the many changes on each page.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this to renew discussions on the seasons and prompt observations of the world around them. Although they loved this book, the nature walk that I intended to follow it has not happened yet .... are the trees taking especially long to leaf this year? It was still a great lead into our Spring studies, and the children were drawn into the beautiful illustrations. I will read it again when the trees actually leaf to prompt thinking before our long overdue nature walk!

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Thomas Locker's artwork, and I have yet to find a book I don't like. This particular book focuses on art. He uses the same tree throughout the book and changes the seasons with his paintings. At the end of the book, there is a small summary beside each picture explaining a bit of science and art about the particular one.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Thomas Locker paintings. They are so wonderfully detailed. This year-long examination of a tree and the paintings it is built around informabout how a deciduous tree changes throughout the year to accomodate the changing seasons. The questions at the end are equally illuminating. It's a unusual and wonderful sort of story.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciated the detailed series of beautiful paintings of a tree through the seasons. I think Bea just heard this book as a simple book about how a deciduous tree changes over the course of the year. She wasn't (and neither was I) really into the questions that broke the rhythm of the book. So - overall - this didn't work real well for us.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 - This is a very cool book. Beautiful images of the tree in different weather and times of year. Great questions to get kids thinking. We can thank Kathy at O's school book share for giving us this book.

[Andrew Lovell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great way to not only help children understand the changes in nature but also the natural changes that take place in our lives. Birth,Life,Death,and the beauty that comes from every season of man's existence.