Customer Reviews

Big Tree

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I read Big Tree as an elementry student in the late 1960's. The book had a profound influence over me. The story helped me as a child put in perspective time as it relates to humans and time as it may relate to other entities in nature. I ended up with a life long interest in nature and a Biology undergraduate degree. Everywhere I live as an adult I plant my region's closest relative to a Big Tree (a bald cypress). Now I need to find a copy of the book for my children to read.

I WAS TEACHING SCHOOL IN THE 60'S AND THIS APPEARED IN A SCOTT FORESMAN SUPPLEMENTAL READING BOOK FOR ADVANCED STUDENTS. MY 4TH GRADERS WERE DEEPLY TOUCHED BY THIS BOOK AND WE READ IT AND CRIED MANY TIMES. IT WAS BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN AND THE CLASS COULD SEE THROUGH THE EYES OF "THE BIG TREE" LIFE AS IT PASSED HIM BY OVER THE HUNDREDS OF YEARS THAT THE BOOK COVERED. I BELIEVE THAT MANY OF MY STUDENTS GAINED A GREAT DEAL OF REPECT FOR NATURE AND A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT FACED THEM THEN. I WANT TO GET THE BOOK TO SHARE IT WITH MY GRANDCHILD WHEN HE IS READY. IT IS A HEARTWARMING, THRILLING BOOK FOR CHILDREN AS WELL AS ADULTS.

It is such an incredible shame that this book is now so hard to find. Even the Main Library in San Francisco keeps just two copies for "Library Use Only". Years ago, while I was still in elementary school, we spent a great deal of time building an appreciation for the natural environment. Today, I remember little of the California ecology or Native American Culture that we studied, but I still regard Wawona and the other inhabitants of the redwood forest with fondness. In hindsight, I'm amazed at how little the authors resorted to anthropomorphism in writing for kids while keeping the subject matter rich and substantive. It says a lot that I can actually still read it today without much embarassment. I do hope they consider a reprint. This book is one I would love to share with my young nephew and the younger generation.

When I was a little girl in the 60's, this was my very favorite book. I would buy a candy bar, and sit and read this book cover to cover. I would make that candy bar last an hour! This book started a profound interest of Nature in me. I have been a bird watcher and hiker for many years now. I will share this book with my Grandson when he is old enough to read it! I had been looking for this book in used book stores, libraries, and finally found it on Amazon! Shipper was fast and the book arrived in great condition! Thanks Amazon!