Synopses & Reviews
This story-in-verse explores the beauty of the Pacific Northwest through the ecosystem of an evergreen tree. The tree's life cycle is illustrated by the variety of plants and animals it supports. Andrea Gabriel's pastel images — soft greens, mellow blues, and cozy browns — perfectly complement the gentle, informative text. Jennifer Blomgren's sensitive use of language — "Its tender young needles sparkled with dew, / like jewels in the wind, as the baby tree grew" — make the book appealing to both children and parents in any locale.
Synopsis
From the author/illustrator team that created the PNBA award-winner,
Where Do I Sleep?, here is a children's story that is destined to become another regional classic. Children and their parents will delight in this magical blend of words and illustration, a book that reflects the scenic wonder of the magnificent natural environment which graces the Pacific Northwest. Infused with Blomgren's whimsical prose and illustrations by Andrea Gabriel, this enchanting tale is also inspired by the Northwests habitat. The living ecosystem of an evergreen tree is depicted in equally animated and serene verses:
A long time ago, on a big mossy log,
on the floor of a forest call covered in fog,
a seed from a cone fell onto the wood
and reached for the sun just as fast as it could.
Its tender young needles sparkled with dew,
like jewels in the wind, as the baby tree grew.
its slender young trunk, so supple and small,
would someday be over two hundred feet tall.
Centuries came and centuries went,
mighty storms blew and great branches bent.
and always, the tree headed up to the sky
to the gray misty clouds where the bald eagles fly.
The tree gave a home to hundreds of plants
and beetles, birds, butterflies, spiders and ants.
With each passing year, more species came —
so many, that some still don't have a name.
Well show just a few of who live in the tree.
We can't show them all, or this book would be
enormous! — too big for your lap, and
too long to read without taking a nap.”
The lifecycle of the indigenous tree is beautifully illustrated by the variety of plants and animals that the evergreen supports through its existence. Though the subject is of particular regional appeal, this nature-derived tale is of vast interest to a national children's audience.
About the Author
Jennifer Blomgren is a greeting card illustrator. She lives in Port Townsend, WA. Andrea Gabriel lives in Seattle.