Celebritrees: Historic & Famous Trees of the World - Hardcover

Preus, Margi

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0805078290 ISBN 13: 9780805078299

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), 2011

Synopsis

Some trees have lived many lifetimes, standing as silent witnesses to history. Some are remarkable for their age and stature; others for their usefulness. A bristlecone pine tree in California has outlived man by almost 4,000 years; a baobab tree in Australia served as a prison for Aboriginal prisoners at the turn of the twentieth century; and a major oak in England was used as a hiding place for Robin Hood and his men (or so the story goes...).

The fourteen trees in this book have earned the title "Celebritrees" for their global fame and significance. Both in fact and in legend, these fascinating trees remind us not only how much pleasure trees bring, but what they can tell us about history.

About this title

About the Author:

Margi Preus is the author of The Peace Bell, which School Library Journal praised for its "[m]essage of peace between nations...eloquently conveyed." She writes plays and children's books in Duluth, Minnesota.

Rebecca Gibbon is the illustrator of several picture books, including Elizabeth Leads the Way, which was named an ALA Notable Book among other honors. She lives in England with her husband and two young children.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 2-4-Preus introduces 14 trees famous in history or legend. Some are renowned for their age, height, girth, or other physical characteristics. For example, Methuselah, a bristlecone pine in California, is more than 4000 years old, while the Tule Tree in Mexico measures 177 feet around. Others are associated with historic events such as the Tree of One Hundred Horses, which sheltered the Queen of Aragon and her soldiers during a rainstorm. The Bodhi tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment and the Major Oak, where Robin Hood and his men met in Sherwood Forest, also appear. The newest trees are those grown from seeds and taken to the moon on Apollo 14 in 1971. Each featured specimen receives a spread with several paragraphs of text plus Gibbon's charming colored pencil and watercolor illustrations. Readers who want to learn more about one or more of the tree varieties can find additional information at the book's end. Preus also suggests ways to help nurture and preserve trees. The book might be paired with titles such as Jason Chin's Redwoods (Roaring Brook, 2009) or Barbara Bash's Tree of Life (Sierra Club, 1989). It can also introduce the importance of the topic, perhaps in connection with observances such as Arbor Day or Earth Day.-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

About this edition

• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0805078290
• ISBN 13: 9780805078299
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Gibbon Rebecca