Be a Tree!

by Maria Gianferrari, Felicita Sala (Illustrator)

An illustrated look at the majesty of trees—and what humans can learn from them

Stand tall.
Stretch your branches to the sun.
Be a tree!
We are all like trees: our spines, trunks; our skin, bark; our hearts giving us strength and support, like heartwood. We are fueled by air and sun.
And, like humans, trees are social. They “talk” to spread information; they share food and resources. They shelter and take care of one another. They are stronger together.

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Childrens, Nonfiction, Environment, Science, Storytime

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 2021

About the author

Bird nerd; nature and animal lover; writer of fiction and nonfiction picture books.

pennyandjelly.com

#pennyandjelly on Instagram

Reviews

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Become a better person by being more like the trees.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspired by German forester Peter Wohlleben's The Hidden Life of Trees , American picture-book author Maria Gianferrari explores the communal life of our arboreal friends in this work of natural history for younger children. Her simple text describing the anatomy and behavior of trees, and comparing these arboreal beings with humans, is paired with beautiful artwork from Australian/Italian illustrator Felicita Sala. The book closes with an author's note, a list of suggestions for helping trees and helping fellow humans, a more detailed exploration of the anatomy of trees, and a list of further reading and viewing...

The seventh title I have read from Gianferrari and the third from Sala, Be a Tree! is a book I expected to thoroughly enjoy, given my love of trees and my previous enjoyment of both author and illustrator's work. Unfortunately, although I think its heart is in the right place, I just wasn't as impressed as I'd expected and hoped to be. I love the idea of trees as social beings - I need to track down that Wohlleben book! - and I don't necessarily object to the idea of comparing trees and people, if it will lead children to empathize more deeply with our arboreal friends, and value them more fully. That said, the didactic aim here was just a little too overt for my taste, and some of the comparisons - describing both bark and skin as "dead," the discussion of "immigrant" trees - felt a little muddled to me. The latter, in particular, was somewhat problematic, as the importation of non-native plant (and animal) species is often strictly forbidden in different countries worldwide, because of the ecological harm it can cause. Although human immigration can be similarly destructive - overpopulation in specific areas can put a strain on natural resources - I tend to think it was not the author's purpose to make that point. Some of the facts presented here were fascinating - trees sharing resources and even news with one another, through their roots - but there simply wasn't enough of an exploration of arboreal social life to be truly satisfying.

Despite my mixed reaction to the text here, I did find the book immensely pleasing, from an aesthetic perspective. Sala's artwork is gorgeous, and really increased my overall enjoyment. I loved her depiction of a diversity of trees, beginning with the baobab, and the diversity of people as well. I added a half star to my rating, to acknowledge the beauty of the artwork. I'm not sure I would strongly recommend this one, given its somewhat muddled and unsatisfying narrative, but young tree-lovers might enjoy it. Certainly, fans of Felicita Sala's artwork, and readers who enjoy beautiful picture-book illustrations, might want to take a look.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful lesson about the wonders of trees.

[Cristina Di Matteo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come un albero è un meraviglioso albo illustrato dedicato alla bellezza sapiente degli alberi e a quello che possono insegnarci. Non ci facciamo mai caso, ma se ci pensiamo bene tutti noi assomigliamo agli alberi. Abbiamo, infatti, la colonna vertebrale che ci fa da tronco, la pelle come la corteccia, il nostro cuore ci dà forza e sostegno, come il midollo. https://ilmondodichri.com/un-anno-a-f...

[Metin Yılmaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Koç Üniversitesinin çocuk yayınları gerçekten çok güzel kitaplar basıyor. Tavsiye ederim.

[Sunday]

Beautiful introduction to trees as living beings with features that actively sustain the tree, other trees, and the surrounding ecosystem. Easy to READ ALOUD. Gianferrari & Sala compare the tree to the children who make up their audience, calling on children to "Be a tree! Stand tall. Stretch your branches to the sun." The author/illustrator duo do not shy away from introducing concepts like the parts of the trunk - bark, outer bark, inner bark, cambium, sapwood, heartwood, pith. A great read aloud for students (even at grades 3-5) as a launch into learning more. Great BACK MATTER which offers more details about the parts of a tree.

ONE HESITATION - Gianferrari tries to make the case that "immigrant" (e.g., non-native trees) are vulnerable in an unfamiliar ecosystem and therefore should be embraced - "but together a forest of trees is strong" similar to how we should embrace all humans in our community. I'm not sure this works since (as mentioned by another reviewer) non-native trees can be invasive, changing a landscape drastically. I think the case that healthy forests are composed of diverse populations making it easier to "fight off disease and insect predation" together (The Wisdom of Trees, Judge, 2021) might have been a better analogy for young children. Communities of human beings thrive because of the diversity within our populations. Not sure if this is a deal breaker. Just a place where the analogy of humans and trees broke down for me.

For grades 3-5, PARTNER THIS TEXT WITH The Wisdom of Trees: How Trees Work Together to Form a Natural Kingdom by Lita Judge (2021).

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love trees but this book was a little heavy-handed for me. In an effort to promote conservation and respect for the world of trees, it compares trees to humans and launches into some deep, passionate text that may be a little over children's heads. There was some interesting information and the illustrations are beautiful.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poetic celebration of trees as one of nature’s greatest creations with clever comparisons to humans and gentle suggestion of how trees can inspire us to be better people.

[Jilanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeously illustrated. Lyrically written. This book draws beautiful parallels between human beings and trees, as individuals and in communities. There's also back matter with additional resources and specifics about tree anatomy, how kids can help save trees, and how they can help in their communities. Great book!

[Lesley Burnap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for learning about the interconnectedness of trees (and people)! A lovely book to share with a classroom and/or family members. Terrific backmatter to encourage readers to get involved in the conservation of trees. 💚💙🤎

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book compares the human body and community to the life of a trees. It explores the make up of the human body, and shows the anatomy of a tree, and the 13 sections that make up the tree. Informative and fact filled.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book! This made me look at trees in a whole new way- as a family that takes care of each other!

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty and inspiring book that both educates young readers about trees and suggests ways they can help and support those around them--much like the way a forest operates.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really stunning illustrations. Acceptable "story" line (not really a story as it is more a book of affirmations).

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prachtige illustraties van Felicita Sala ❤️

[Sophie - Kinderboekentips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ik kan boeken met dit soort boodschappen alleen maar 5 sterren geven!

[Lisa]

great illustrations!

[Marianne Lalancette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish i read this as a kid

(Highlight de mon shift au classement à la biblio aujourd’hui😽)

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...

BE A TREE! is an intriguing picture book that compares people to trees. This extended metaphor compared the ways that we and trees share information and resources. The poetic writing is accompanied by full-page, whimsical illustrations featuring trees and children.

What I loved: This was an interesting concept in comparing the ways that humans and trees can be similar. The writing has a lovely rhythm to it, and the illustrations are lovely, capturing the beauty of trees and forests. There's some information about trees hidden within the text, such as about the way they share information through roots, share nutrients, and other simple things about trees.

What left me wanting more: The comparison can be a bit heavy-handed, and I am not sure that the lessons all come through. For instance, I am not sure I would call skin dead like bark. Additionally, immigrant trees would be nonnative/invasive and can mess with the ecosystem, so it does not make the comparison to people well.

The length of the book is a bit tough for little ones, and it seemed a bit repetitive. This may work better for older readers or children who just enjoy looking at pretty pictures.

Final verdict: BE A TREE! is an intriguing picture book that encourages community and a love of trees. Recommend for older picture book readers.

Please note that I received a review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Tatiana Crichton]

I loved how multi-faceted this book was. The first half was so kinesthetic- you could easily read this to your class if students needed a grounding moment, or if students needed to stretch. Reading this story reminded me quite a bit of my morning yoga. Then, the second half of the book moved on from the individual to the community, and how we are stronger together. Maria Gianferrari drew some really amazing parallels between people and trees, on both levels. I immediately saw myself using this story in a science lesson, especially because the author does so well explaining the roles of each part of the tree, then how trees are an important part of the ecosystem. At the end of the story, the author provides pages detailing the anatomy of a tree, but also includes a call to action, offering ideas for how people can help save trees, and help in their community. I would love to read this to students and see what ideas they can come up with, as well as see what connections they could draw between trees and people/communities. The imagery is so beautiful and intricate in this book, I see new details each time I look at a page again. The color palate that Felicita Sala uses is very calming, with muted tones and smooth, curling lines, but yet, each page is vibrant in its own right, telling its own unique story.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote a poem about a tree this past week for Poetry Friday and found another blogger who shared his favorite books about trees, not only for children but for adults, too. One of those is the new book by Lita Judge, The Wisdom of Trees that I shared last month. And now, this marvelous book is out by Maria Gianferrari about being a tree, knowledge of trees, yes, but also about being a human! With diverse children and adults, Felicita Sala illustrates many science-based concepts that Maria connects to humans. For example, "Be a tree! Stand tall. Stretch your branches to the sun." As the pages move along, included are double-page spreads showing the tree, one showing it 'down' in order to demonstrate the heartwood and rings. Every imaginable part is covered, included the diversity, like humans, too. A fold-out feels like a mural masterpiece. I wish it could be painted on a wall somewhere. I'd love to quote the ending, but more than that, I want you the readers to experience it yourselves.
Lots of backmatter completes the book with an author's note, how to help save trees, how to help forests in the community, a detailed 'map' of a tree's parts, further reading and websites. Felicita Sala offers another extra, leaves painted and identified on the endcovers. It is a gorgeous book, another to add to your collection.

[Lisa Holmes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Abrams (2021)

Inspired by Peter Wohllenben's "The Hidden Life of Trees," Maria Gianferrari does a good job extending these concepts to children. She encourages us to extend our roots into the soil to "ground ourselves" and to stretch our branches to the sky. These are admirable and beautiful ways to teach children meditative practices. The reminder that trees are all connected, as are humans, is also lovely. We can reach out to each other, help each other, and work as a community—I love it all. I wish the language worked a little harder, though. Sometimes, it felt like the story was trying to be poetic but instead felt clunky or forced. "Our roots twine with fungi, joining all trees in the forest together" was one of those phrases for me. However, then followed by a successful, high-concept phrase such as, "A wood wide web of information." This book is certainly worth reading. The watercolor illustrations are lovely, and the concepts of how we're all nature, connected, and a forest are essential to young readers. The educational component at the back of the book is excellent, as it shows children how to 1) identify the parts of a tree, 2) Help save trees, and 3) "Be a forest" and help your community.

[Children's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here’s an awesome book all about trees, the second graders loved this one!!

The story invites children to see themselves in nature and to embody the qualities of trees drawing powerful parallels between human beings and trees… It highlights anatomical similarities between trees and humans, such as bark and skin, or heartwood and the human heart. It delves into the concept of the “wood wide web,” where trees communicate and support each other through underground fungal networks. The book culminates in a call to action for readers to emulate the cooperative and nurturing aspects of forest ecosystems in their own communities. Encouraging kids to “be a tree” 🌳

This book masterfully blends science and poetry to explore how trees communicate through the “wood wide web,” a fungal network that supports entire forests, (used here as a metaphor for human relationships built on kindness, cooperation, and interdependence).

The illustrations really stand out, I love the style! The text follows the growth of trees into a forest, echoing the idea that people, like trees, flourish in community. I found it both a joy to read aloud and a powerful tool for sparking classroom discussions about nature, empathy, and connection. Definitely check this one out!

[pia.pf10 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Das Cover ist schon wunderschön und die Illustrationen im gesamten Buch genauso. Es gibt für kleine Kinder so viel zu entdecken und der Text ist nicht zu schwer zu verstehen.

Es gibt auch ein paar wissenswerte Informationen über Bäume, die wirklich interessant sind und ich noch nicht wusste.

Es wird alles super spannend erklärt, wie die Bäume miteinander agieren, sich helfen und kommunizieren und das, obwohl wir sie immer nur als einfache "Objekte" ansehen.

Ich finde die Message toll, dass wir Menschen uns genauso wie Bäume verhalten sollten, da diese sich immer aushelfen und etwas Gutes tun und nicht einfach wegsehen.

Die Doppelseite, die man zum Ende hin nochmal ausklappen kann ist auch gerade für Kinder ein tolles Extra und bringt ein bisschen Spaß ins Lesen.

Ich kann das Buch auf jeden Fall empfehlen und es ist auch schön, dass am Ende nochmal ein paar Tipps zum besseren Umgang der umwelt und auch mit anderen Menschen stehen.

[Mother Goose Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be A Tree by Maria Gianferarri and illustrated by Felicita Sala is a delightful, non fiction picture book about the amazingness of trees and forests of trees. Narrative text is written in lyrical prose. Gorgeous artwork not only fills the double page spreads but also the delicately illustrated end pages, stunning case cover, and fold out pages. Illustrations were done in natural hues that mimic the natural world. Extensive back matter includes; an author’s note, “ways to save trees,” “anatomy of trees,” and a list of further reading and websites. Readers will be intrigued by the information and awed by the artwork. Be A Tree is a beautiful picture book that should be shared any time but especially when learning about nature and the trees that surround us. It’s the perfect book for nature enthusiasts. Highly recommended.

[Katja Smit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uit het Engels vertaald door Kees Spiering, met als Nederlandse titel "Als een boom".

Ik weet niet zo goed wat ik ermee moet. Volgens de bieb is de doelgroep 4-8 jaar. Ik kan mij voorstellen dat dat geldt voor de meer dan geweldige illustraties. Maar de tekst vind ik helemaal niet aansluiten op die leeftijdscategorie. Aan het eind van het boek krijg je allerlei informatie over de anatomie van een boom, die toch echt voor oudere kinderen bedoeld is.

Enerzijds poëtisch (Onze kronen vormen een koepel die zwaait en deint, de stormwind vertraagt.), anderzijds stichtelijk (Een familie, een gemeenschap, een land, een heelal. Er is genoeg voor iedereen.) Heel Amerikaans, of in elk geval heel vertaald.

Mijn hart gaat er niet sneller van kloppen.

AJ, bomen, 2021.

[Sal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strongly influenced by Peter Wohlleben’s The Hidden Life of Trees, Gianferrari’s wonderful book explores the connections between people and trees. When she writes “We talk, share food, divide resources, alert each other to danger”, she could be talking about humans, but is actually referring to recent research showing how trees are interconnected (see Suzanne Simard’s book, Finding the Mother Tree). A great book to read to young children and discuss. The watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil double-page spread illustrations by Felicita Sila are wonderful, conveying at times whimsy, motion, dynamic energy.
The useful back matter includes the anatomy of a tree, further reading, and websites. The endpapers show the shapes of several different kinds of trees.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I actually ended up liking it.

The metaphor is a bit heavy handed and drawn out. The illustrations are fantastic though and there is a lot of information about trees.

I was a little confused about the inclusion of the "immigrant tree." I understand it from the comparison of humans to trees and how we should include immigrants but I feel like it doesn't quite work with plants because when plants/trees that are not native to an area are introduced, it can harm the ecosystem and I feel like that is definitely NOT the message that the author is trying to make about immigrants.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful leaf silhouette endpapers.

Compares a humans to trees. "Stand tall, stretch your branches to the sun..." Then tells how trees make communities, make habitats, sustain ecosystems and encourages people to be like trees - protecting each other and sharing resources.

Author's Note tells how The Hidden Life of Trees inspired this book. Shares 5 ways to help save trees. How to help your community and Provides a 2 page anatomy of a tree. Further readings, viewings and websites also suggested.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be a tree for your own benefit. Grow solid roots and reach toward the sun and let the world fuel you.
“But together, a forest of trees is strong.”

There is a lot that trees can teach us about being a community: they share resources, protect each other and the contribute to the greater good of their habitat. Definitely something that we could all aspire to. So come one everyone! Be a tree! “A family, a community, a country, a cosmos. There is enough for all.”

This is a very cool book. Includes a good bibliography for further reading as well as an author’s note, tree diagram and a list of way to “Be a forest” to help your community.