Review by Booklist Review
Many books show the life cycle of an apple, but few include such friendly-looking seeds and so much additional information about trees in a broader context. With a "Wheeee!" and a gleeful smile, an apple falls to the ground--and from there, this cheerful presentation explains how the apple's seed "snuggles into the cozy ground," grows from a seedling to a grand tree over the course of 80 years, and changes seasonally, with one of her last apples starting the cycle anew. In addition, one section explains how trees communicate through underground networks; another briefly shows how other species around the world--from weeping willows to baobabs--differ. Despite the overall storytime feel, terms like photosynthesis and mycelia are introduced effectively and defined quickly and simply in the text. Giving the trees, sun, and other natural elements' smiling faces, while keeping the large-font narrative to a sentence or two per page, makes this an especially welcoming but still informative read for emergent young botanists.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
Hodgson's friendly science lesson introduces readers to the life cycle of an apple tree. Tree's story begins when an apple falls to the ground, eventually allowing Seed to take root and begin to grow. As in When Moon Became a Moon (rev. 7/23), characters (e.g., Tree, Seed, Sun, Cloud, etc.) are depicted with expressive cartoon eyes and smiley mouths, and speech bubbles provide their humorous asides. Twelve short chapters highlight different phases of Tree's growth. Bees, worms, and mushrooms ("I'm a fun guy!") all make appearances. A handful of humans, with differing skin tones, abilities, and ages, are depicted interacting with trees in various settings. Tree's role in the greater ecosystem is also highlighted, along with a connection between the protagonist and various trees that grow in other climates and locations. A consistent color palette and inviting aesthetic carry throughout the book. While the natural elements are anthropomorphized, the book solidly explains scientific concepts in an approachable manner, focusing on both the small and large aspects of a tree's life. Miriam Steinberg-EgethMay/June 2025 p.111 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The life of an apple tree, from tiny seed to proud parent. Following the pattern ofWhen Cloud Became a Cloud (2021) andWhen Moon Became the Moon (2023), Hodgson endows nearly everything in his bright cartoon illustrations, from seeds to sun, with a smiley face. He slips a fair bit of scientific information into the minimal narrative, which follows the growth of a seed that emerges from a decomposed apple ("Hi, I'm Seed!") to a mature tree shedding apples of her own. Along the way, younger readers will gain insight into photosynthesis, learn how flowers turn to fruit as the seasons pass, and discover how roots absorb nutrients, serve as anchors, and, with help from fungal mycelia ("I'm a fun guy!"), communicate with other nearby trees. Though the notion that trees do eventually die goes unmentioned, the octogenarian Tree does drop a branch that provides "cozy homes for critters" until it breaks down to improve the soil. In one mini-chapter, select relatives, from rain forest durian trees to spiky pines, weeping willows, and bulbous baobabs, hint at the diversity of Tree's "big, special family." The human figures who appear in some scenes for scale are likewise diverse. A beneficent view of growth and cycles in nature.(Informational picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.