The Magic and Mystery of Trees

by Jen Green, Claire McElfatrick (Illustrator)

Rare Book

Genres: Nature, Picture Books, Science, Nonfiction, Childrens, Reference, Ecology

80 pages, Hardcover

Published March 5, 2019

About the author

Jen Green is a British author of over 300 non-fiction books for children and adults. She earned a doctorate in English literature from Sussex University and became a full-time writer after a career in publishing. She lives near the Sussex Downs.

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kudos to Penguin Random House for such a damn perfect book for the young readers! It’s luxury reading such books from the DK series for young readers. Lush illustrations, amazing presentation, perfect great paper quality and print, reliable information and top notch production.

I am thoroughly impressed.

[Rebecca Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this book with my 7 year old. We learned some fascinating facts about trees and it is beautifully illustrated.

[Jackie Law · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and FULL of fascinating information for every age tree lover or not, you will be!

[Kate Hastings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grades 3-8. Highlights of this book for educators-- adaptations trees have to survive. This is a beautiful book packed with facts. My only critique is that the author anthropomorphizes trees a bit too much. A book claiming "trees feel pain like we do" needs a bibliography. I do understand how children might relate to the network of trees using their relationship of friends and family. Saying roots are like a brain gives students an idea that they are the control center. As an adult I want to know more about how trees can distinguish what kind of animal is nibbling them.

[Neha Bansal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply mesmerising... A must read for every kid and adult who loves trees and beautiful illustrations about them.... Did I say that the illustrations were just soooooooo amazing???? Guys u have to own a copy even if it's meant for younger readers...buy it for Ur children, nephews, nieces, brothers, sisters , cousins, for any kid around you or just to satisfy the kid in u 🤗

[MEHorton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully-illustrated book is full of facts and information about trees. Did you know trees send messages to each other underground? This is just one of the many things I learned in this book. I recommend it for children and adults.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book about trees for kids. Loved reading this with my son. It led to so many discussions about trees that we wouldn't have had otherwise. And such pretty artwork too.

[Marisa Costa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jen Green, doctora de la universidad de Sussex y editora, ha publicado cerca de doscientos cincuenta libros con temáticas que giran en torno al medio o las ciencias naturales como geografía, naturaleza, cuerpo humano o supervivencia entre otros.

Claire McElfatrick, ilustradora y diseñadora representada por Advocate Art Licencing, se dedica a la realización y diseño de tarjetas, material de papelería y a la ilustración de libros infantiles.

En "La magia y el misterio de los árboles" ambas se unen para realizar una exploración en profundidad y acercar la naturaleza de una forma atractiva a los más pequeños.

En un formato esquemático, informativo y ensayístico, Jen Green expresa de forma concisa, accesible y apropiada diferentes apartados cuyo foco principal se concentra en la vida de los árboles. Dichos apartados se hayan seccionados en cinco bloques temáticos cuyos títulos y contenidos se exponen a continuación:

El árbol: este apartado ejerce como un prólogo en donde se realiza un acercamiento a esta planta de tallo leñoso, presenta su funcionamiento, su ciclo vital, los tipos existentes y sus partes.

Flores, frutos y semillas: aquí se realiza un recorrido por todo aquello procedente del árbol; la polinización, las funciones de la fauna, los sentidos que poseen los árboles o los récords obtenidos en todas las categorías.

Amigos de por vida: este punto es sumamente interesante pues describe las relaciones e interacciones de los árboles entre sí.

Hábitats arbóreos; como su nombre indica, en el cuarto apartado se pone de manifiesto las relaciones existentes entre las plantas con los animales y los diferentes medios existentes trabajando los ecosistemas.

Los árboles y el planeta: este bloque es quizás el que más compete al ser humano, pues en él se presentan los recursos extraídos de los árboles para el uso de las personas. Y no sólo eso, también trata aspectos como la deforestación, contaminación y sobreexplotación. Del mismo modo, ofrece soluciones y tareas ecológicas.

Como se puede apreciar en este breve resumen de contenidos, el libro ofrece una visión global de la vida de los árboles en todos sus aspectos. Se encuentra repleto de curiosidades y notas informativas que acercan y promueven el aprendizaje de la flora existente. Además, la autora incluye tecnicismos que explica detenidamente aportando al texto un carácter más didáctico.

La edición incluye una geolocalización de los diferentes tipos de árboles encontrados en el planeta, así como un extenso glosario.

Además de la diversidad de árboles existentes, se incluyen aspectos relacionados con la fauna incluyendo la biodiversidad y el funcionamiento de diversos ecosistemas, entre otros. Completando así la totalidad del enfoque naturalista.

Las imágenes que acompañan al texto se complementan a la perfección a partir de una mezcla o collage muy original entre la delicada y suave ilustración de Claire y las realistas fotografías que lo superponen facilitando la distinción, acercando y esclareciendo los detalles.

Personalmente, considero que este libro descubre un mundo secreto y biológicamente inteligente escondido bajo tierra que no todo el mundo conoce y que despierta la admiración, descubre la belleza y consigue la fascinación de todo aquel que lo conoce.

Sin duda "La magia y misterios de los árboles" es un curioso, entretenido y didáctico libro que permite al lector conectar con la naturaleza, hacerse más consciente de ella y contemplarla con otros ojos.

Un álbum ideal para trabajar en primaria como recurso complementario o para regalar a todo aquel pequeño que sienta curiosidad por la naturaleza y el mundo que lo rodea

[Steve H · Rating 4 out of 5]

About 70 pages of short, pithy paragraphs about trees combined with creative illustrations and design. Some pages are trivia (biggest, tallest, widest, oldest, heaviest trees) while others discuss trees' place in the environment. I'm not children's librarian, but I'm going to say it would work for 3rd grade on up. Language is pretty simple. Paragraphs are usually just sentence or two long. Great for the budding naturalist. (pun intended, partly because it was so easy.) Share with the kiddos in your life.

[Toi Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a delightful nonfiction read. The pages of this book are beautiful; a mixture of real images, vibrant illustrations, and patchwork layering made each page feel like a nature scavenger hunt.

I was also impressed with the plethora of information the book presents about trees, from the different types, to where and how they grow, and how trees fit into the inner workings of the earth. There's so much information here. I could easily see this being an excellent supplement to a natural science or botany class for young children (I think trees are covered in those subjects). This could also be great for an Arbor Day or Earth Day lesson, a seasons of the year lesson, and so much more.

In any case, I actually learned a few things from reading this book and enjoyed searching through the pages to see what all was there.

Highly recommended.

[Kasra Shahedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing illustrations! I really loved this book. A different book for understanding better the trees and their incredibly power!

[Fi's Journey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this over the months. I think it's great for children to read as it's simply written and easy to understand. I'm giving it 4.5*stars.

[Rob Chappell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This well-illustrated book is packed with great information and fun facts about trees -- those amazing green creatures that keep our planet habitable (if only we will let them!). In these magical pages, text and pictures combine to take readers on a fact-filled odyssey from the Arctic to the topics, surveying all kinds of trees, their life cycles, and the animals, birds, and fungi that live around, inside, upon, and beneath them. Along the way, we also learn about some fantastic abilities that trees have, not only to adapt to their surrounding environments, but also how they perceive the world around themselves with their senses and how they communicate with each other using a "wood wide web" of roots and fungi.

I learned a great deal from reading this book, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in trees and the vital role that they play in our planetwide ecosystem.

[Silvio · Rating 5 out of 5]

How delightful! Trees and forests really speak to me (not least because of my name), and reading this little beautiful book was a conversation with my soul. Can't wait to read more of these lovely illustrated books (for children of all ages)!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly lovely book. Great for helping kids learn more about nature.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Large and beautifully illustrated with many photos as well to give children well rounded information about trees.

[Sherri Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for children to learn about trees. Well written and nice graphics

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative and beautifully illustrated.

[Tamsin Ramone · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very nicely illustrated overview of trees.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Fantastic book. Feels magical.

[Karel Nijs · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far the best educational, graphic illustrated children's book I've read in years. My 8yo daughter loved it and I learned a lot too. Recommended!

[Dodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book for kids. Great information along with pictures and illustrations

[Marie Kitchings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful and engaging!

[Wendi (Alex) Werner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great reference for children. I had the audio version but saw a flip-through of the book. The illustrations make a huge difference to listen along with.

[Dr. S · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for child to understand about tree's.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid, detailed book about trees for kids

The illustrations are vibrant and dynamic, enhancing the text quite nicely. It's a good book about trees for kids, if a bit on the longer side. There are some great details that reflect more modern knowledge, if I remember botany correctly. It's nice that it talks about conservation a little throughout and addresses the topic clearly at the end. The tree maps are cool too! I can imagine kids getting excited to pick out which trees they've seen in their area vs. their family's or another country's that they want to visit. Definitely get this book in print though. It's okay as an ebook, but some pages have to be read sideways and the zoomed in reading feature (I cannot remember what it's called) doesn't align with the text. Seeing the maps and two-page spreads in person on a full-sized book or a big computer monitor would be much better.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated book on large, thick pages; but brand new after a single reading the glue is already separating on the binding, so poorly constructed and not something to last a lifetime. Fast fashion in a book that specifically decries the misuse of tree products? Hm.

The information was often very simple and straightforward, interwoven with the illustrations in such a way it was easy to miss a blurb here or there; going slowly through the sections allowing for perusal would probably be the best way to read it with children.

I learned something new and found myself wanting to know more, especially the more recent research referenced about tree senses; however I didn’t see any resources to do so. This book will be more of a springboard for me to search for deeper material.

Overall take? Beautiful book to hand to my children, but not entirely educational. And I hope it holds up under their use.

[Dewi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ilustrasinya cakep!
Biasanya buku tentang pohon (untuk anak) lebih banyak berkutat dengan bagian pohon dan interaksi dengan mahluk hidup lain seperti hewan dan manusia. Di buku ini dibahas tentang interaksi antar tanaman, bagaimana pohon-pohon ini saling berkomunikasi dan saling melindungi.
Cara penulis menyajikan fakta-fakta juga bukan sekedar dilontarkan, namun memberikan sebab akibat. Misal mengapa pohon bakau memiliki akar yang tinggi? Karena akar ini berfungsi sebagai penyaring kandungan garam sehingga pohon menyerap air segar.

Tambahan gak penting :
Pohon favorit saya : sequoia, dan favorit Mika : pohon baobab.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Magic and Mystery of Trees by Jen Green
Great book about different types of trees, where trees grow well and so many other facts.
Liked learning about the parts and what they each do especially to their neighbor trees.
There are many secrets about them.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

[Puneet Suri · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books that I have read to my 7 year old. This book made me look at trees in awe, wonder and more care. Worth having in your children’s collection of book which can be passed on to the next generation.