Review by Booklist Review
Hirsch and Posada, who previously collaborated on Plants Can't Sit Still (2016), now explain how the tallest trees grow. After sprouting from a seed or an old tree stump, each new tree sustains itself by drawing light from the sun, carbon dioxide from the air, and water from the ground. As it grows, it contributes to Earth's water cycle and to the oxygen content of the air. The tree's trunk grows upward, while its roots grow deeper and wider, intertwining with those of other trees for stability. Many tall trees live for hundreds of years, and some are more than 3,000 years old. While the main text uses common words, in the back matter Hirsch introduces and uses fundamental botanical terms, such as stomata, xylem, and phloem, when explaining basic internal functions of trees. Varied composition and realistic textures heighten the appeal of Posada's attractive illustrations. Created with cut-paper collage and watercolor, they capture the trees' soaring height and dignity; while small photos represent the examples featured in the appended section on the tallest trees. World maps indicate the general locations of these giants. Written with clarity and illustrated to help viewers understand the ideas discussed, this handsome book offers an appealing, informative introduction to trees.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Hirsch teaches basic plant biology through the example of the world's "tallest living thing"--trees--in this awe-inspiring text. Employing rhythmic repetition, careful prose first juxtaposes coast redwoods, giant sequoias, Sitka spruces, and the like with other entities, including the Statue of Liberty and a blue whale. Turning to trees' beginnings as "old stumps" or "seeds/ as small as a ladybug," Hirsch highlights the supporting role of air, food, sunlight, and water in the trees' lives, which are sometimes thousands of years long. Washed in earthy browns and vivid emerald greens, Posada's expertly rendered cut paper collage provide texture that feels touchable--an approach well suited to the close-up imagery (including detailed insets) of bark-covered trunks, jagged-edged leaves, and seedlings bursting from soil. A vertical spread offers an emblematic, energetic wow moment as the trees rise "up,/ up,/ up/ to the sky!" Extensive back matter includes activities. Ages 5--10. (Apr.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
How do trees grow? The team that produced Plants Can't Sit Still (2016) uses the same winning formula of a few well-chosen words and appealing images to describe how trees can become the "tallest living thing" on Earth. Hirsch's poetic text starts at the beginning, with seeds and sprouts, going on to describe how young trees use sunlight to feed themselves, take in water from the ground and carbon dioxide from the air, and return oxygen and water to the air. As trees grow taller, their roots grow wider, "intertwine with the roots of their neighbors...and help hold the tree up." Seeds fall, and the cycle begins again. This sequence is splendidly illustrated with Posada's textured, stylized, though accurate cut-paper collages and watercolors, each spread showing a different stage. One spread must be turned sideways, emphasizing the incredible height of some trees. The backmatter explains the process in more detail, introducing relevant vocabulary and answering some anticipated questions. There are also photographs of some of the world's tallest tree species and a map showing where they can be found. With graceful, easy-to-read-aloud text and illustrations that would show well to a group, this would be a welcome addition to a nature-themed storytime. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A well-focused, beautiful, and informative introduction to the arboreal world. (activities, further reading) (Informational picture book. 4-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
