"Growing trees are hungry.
They feed themselves with sunlight.
Their leaves use light from the sun,
water from the ground,
and carbon dioxide from the air
to make sugar and oxygen.
The sugar becomes food for the tree,
and the oxygen becomes part of the
air we breathe."
Opening with a question about height, then moving on to show how the 'tallest living thing' compares in size to such iconic structures as the Statue of Liberty and Big Ben, this terrific book about trees grabs attention immediately.
The life cycle begins in an old stump, a small seed or a dot of dirt. As the roots sink down into the earth, the tree grows up, and up, and up. Observing what trees need to grow, as well as how they give back to nature, the author explains the process clearly and simply enough for young readers to fully understand. As they grow taller, the roots grow wider and deeper in partnership with other trees nearby. Years pass; 'many have stood for thousands of years'.
From where they stand, these giants release their seeds and another tree begins. They, too, have a chance to become a tallest tree. Mia Posada's splendid artwork is created using watercolors and cut-paper collage. Each stage of the life cycle is given attention, with varying perspectives that exhibit the formidable size of these giants.
Back matter is extensive and informative, adding appeal for older readers and introducing important vocabulary. Pertinent questions are asked and answered, and photographs of some of the world's tallest trees superimposed on a world map are shown and described. Two activities and a list of further reading materials bring the book to a close.
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