Customer Reviews

The Big Tree

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a wonderful book. It is the story of a maple tree inNew York state; how it began from a seed, grew up in the forestprimeval, survived the pioneer's axe to live in a family's yard, has provided shade and syrup to generations passing on its way to becoming the venerable giant it is now. Part science, part American history, all beautiful. My son has enjoyed this book since he was about 3 (he's reading it himself now at 7) and I'm buying extra copies as gifts.

This is a great book to use in conjunction with a unit on trees. I was absolutely thrilled when I received this book. I purchased it based on the description that it tells the story of a tree and the history that occurs in our country as the tree grows older. I was thrilled when I saw that is also discusses how the tree grows, its rings, and growth needs. I strongly recommend this picture book for any elementary school teacher.

Bruce Hiscock has managed to pack in information on both science and history in an enjoyable way in just a few pages. My 8-year-old daughter loves this book. We did it as a read aloud, and I found that my older kids were also listening in and looking at the pictures with interest.

We borrowed this book from the library and loved it so much that we bought our own copy. It's beautiful and informative, tells a great story, too. Both my kids (3 and 7) love this book. It's ideal for reading to kids of different ages because the younger ones will enjoy the illustrations and story and the older ones will appreciate all that as well as the science.

I came to Amazon, as I typically do, looking for something special. 1,000 wods, hunh? Okay. One of my fondest childhood memories is of a book entitled The Big Tree. It was read to my 2nd grade class by a wonderful old grandmotherly teacher...Mrs. Woods. This was at Wineteer Elementary School at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita Kansas in 1962. That book literally changed my life, in the sense that it alone initiated a love affair with reading that has lasted my entire life. The book was about the life and times of a giant redwood tree in California...as I recall the story spanned several hundred years. Clearly, it made a terrific impression on me. I came here looking for this book. Instead I have found Bruce's book, which appears to be a similar story told from an oak tree's point of view. I can say this about that, considering the fact that I have not read Bruce's book. If it is half a good as the book I recall, I would recommend this story whole heartedly. If a book like this can reach your grade school child the way the redwood story affected me, it will be an investment in the future the likes of which you can only begin to imagine. Bruce, thank you for keeping the dream alive.

Much later edit to this entry by the reviewer:

Interestingly, I have recently stumbled upon the book I was searching for - it was written by Mary and Conrad Buff and entitled Big Tree. It is the life story of Wa-No-Na, a 5000-year old Sequoia. Just the book I was thinking of.

Actually, I was motivated to search again by someone (Thanks, David!) who was looking for the same book I was and read my comments here at Amazon. I found several copies, for anyone else who might be looking, at a favorite bookstore specializing in childhood books - www.alibris.com. I purchased a First Edition.