Behold The Trees [Hardcover]

Sue Alexander (Author), Leonid Gore (Illustrator)

Book Description

In dramatic prose, Behold The Trees describes the trees that grew long ago in the land now called Israel. But that is only the beginning of the story. Over the centuries, the land was fought over, conquered, and reconquered. Built up and burnt down. Exploited and neglected. Until no trees would grow and the land became barren. And then the people began to plant again.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Trees. Leaves, twigs, branches, bark-covered trunks, roots going down into dark, damp soil. Shields for the earth against the searing sun and drying winds. This is the story of one land and its trees. It begins a long, long, very long time ago..."

In Behold the Trees Sue Alexander and Leonid Gore paint a riveting, heartbreaking picture of the long, slow devastation of one piece of Earth--and the hopeful beginnings of its renewal. Alexander, in a mesmerizing litany, recites the names of the trees that once sheltered and protected the land in what is now Israel: "Oak and almond, fig and olive, terebinth and palm, acacia and pomegranate, willow and tamarisk." She then describes, in chronologically organized, heartfelt text, the thousands of years of wars, farming, building, burning, and neglect that contributed to the loss of the trees. Ultimately, she writes of present-day efforts by Jewish people of all ages to replant the trees: "one by one--hundreds and thousands and millions of trees." The litany has changed once again, but hope has been rekindled. "Cypress and pine, eucalyptus and acacia, orange and olive, lemon and pecan, oak and palm... They hold back the sea, cool the air, and protect the earth for the people and animals who live there."

Leonid Gore's dramatic illustrations, in acrylic and colored pencil, portray the souls within the trees, and the tragic history they share with humans. (Ages 6 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

Tracing the horticultural history of the land now known as Israel, Alexander (One More Time, Mama) delicately but powerfully implies a parallel between its trees of and the Jews who settled there. Beginning in 5000 BCE, she fleshes out a timeline that blends history and ecology to chronicle the cycle of bloom, destruction and renewal that has characterized this land over the centuries. She tells of "centuries of wandering the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob," of farming and settlement, of occupations and wars, from the Babylonians and Romans to the Turks and the British. The land stands stripped of its timber until "no owls or doves remained to soar through the air or trill their songs." Rejuvenation begins after WW I, as Jews the world over save to fund the purchase of new trees, trees that have restored present-day Israel to its former beauty. Alexander's poetic imagery ("fires sent twists of smoke into the air") and elegiac refrains ("And no new trees were planted") are heightened by Gore's (Sleeping Boy) resonant, haunting pairing of shepherds and prophets, soldiers and settlers with the graceful flow and sweep of branches and leaves. He plants Corinthian columns of a conquering nation side by side with tree trunks, one of many visual metaphors that hint at the interconnectedness of life. Profoundly satisfying. All ages.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books; First edition, first printing (full number line) edition (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590762117
• ISBN-13: 978-0590762113
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #839,944 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Little-Known History, Poetic Text, Lovely Illustrations, November 20, 2002

By 

Bea Gresh "careful reader" (Dallas, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Behold The Trees (Hardcover)

This short history of trees in the Holy Land melds fact with poetic language and magnificent art. Unfortunately cataloged by the Library of Congress as fiction, this book presents an accurate description of the natural history of the small slice of land called Israel over a 7,000 year period. The language is simple enough for a child to understand, yet contains little-known history, deep truths, and complex concepts.

The sensitive illustrations have a magical quality, managing to show the historical realities of each period within the context of trees. The illustrator's use of color is outstanding, with color fading as the land is denuded, then rebuilding to lush blues and greens as new forests darken the hillsides.

This book would make a wonderful gift for any child, and for any adult interested in either the environment or the Holy Land.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Feast For The Eyes, April 4, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Behold the Trees (Paperback)

If one only looks at the pictures on this book, one has "read" it. Of course, the text just highlights the illustrations. Every child - and every adult- should have this book to read and absorb on a regular basis. It stimulates the imagination in every way. Something beautiful to behold.