Redwoods [Hardcover]

Jason Chin (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

An ordinary train ride becomes and extraordinary trip to the great ancient forests

A subway trip is transformed when a young boy happens upon a book about redwood forests. As he reads the information unfolds, and with each new bit of knowledge, he travels--all the way to California to climb into the Redwood canopy. Crammed with interesting and accurate information about these great natural wonders, Jason Chin's first book is innovative nonfiction set within a strong and beautiful picture storybook.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1–4—This remarkable picture book delivers a mix of fantasy and fiction through beautifully detailed watercolors. Waiting on a subway platform alone, a boy finds a book about redwood trees and becomes captivated while reading it on the train. As he learns that there are trees alive today that first sprouted during the Roman Empire, readers notice two passengers seated beside him from that period. When he comes out of the station, he finds himself deep in a redwood forest, where, clad in climber's gear and a harness, he launches a rope, climbs a tree, discovers wildlife in the branches, and experiences the many wonders similar to a professional researcher. Colorful panels focus on his observations. Chin superbly captures the boy's varied expressions throughout his adventure. Perspective is artfully used to show the immensity of the trees as he rappels back down into the city with images of landmarks and skyscrapers. Reality returns when he notices the time and darts off, leaving the book behind for a girl to discover and begin her journey in the redwoods. The final pages include information about the environmental dangers that the redwoods face, some nature graphics drawn to scale, and an inspiring author's note. This inventive story will charm and educate readers and send their imaginations soaring.—Anne Beier, Hendrick Hudson Free Library, Montrose, NY
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From Booklist

*Starred Review* The first book Chin has written as well as illustrated is a real eye-opener. Before the title page, the first illustration shows a boy finding a book called Redwoods while waiting for his subway train. Remarkably, the boy pictured on the cover looks like him, though on the title page, a girl in an orange sweater walks through the trees. The text is straightforward nonfiction: an informative guide to redwood trees. Meanwhile, the illustrations create an imaginative drama that highlights the facts. When he is reading that some trees alive today sprouted during Roman times, the boy is shown sharing a seat with a Roman Legionnaire and a citizen wearing a toga. When he leaves the subway, he emerges into a stand of redwoods, which he thoroughly explores from forest floor to canopy. A height comparison of trees and skyscrapers brings him back to the city, where he leaves the book on a park bench. The illustrations conclude with the girl in an orange sweater picking up the book and beginning her own adventure. The text clearly and succinctly presents information, which is effectively illustrated in the colorful paintings. Even better, the narrative element in the artwork soars, promising to engage children imaginatively as well as intellectually. Preschool-Grade 3. --Carolyn Phelan

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Flash Point (March 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596434309
• ISBN-13: 978-1596434301
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 7.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #309,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book, a mixture of fact and fantasy, is a great example of the "new way" to interest children in nonfiction!, June 28, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Redwoods (Hardcover)

The boy was on platform fourteen waiting for the F train. He walked toward the train, but his imagination and mind were more on the book he was reading about redwood trees. When he was seated on the train, his imagination began to swirl and he placed himself smack dab in the middle of the story. Redwoods, of course, are the "oldest trees in the world." They lived in the Jurassic period when the dinosaurs roamed the earth. Amazingly they are even trees alive today that were probably mere saplings "during the Roman Empire!"

His imagination was working overtime and when he exited the stairs from the subway he magically found himself standing on the forest floor beneath some massive redwoods. The book was amazing and he was learning all kinds of facts about these wonderful trees. He learned about their massive diameter, their seedlings, how fast a sapling can grow, how "redwoods also grow from other redwoods," how they defend themselves from infections and insects, how they are equipped to live through fires and many other interesting facts.

This book, a mixture of fact and fantasy, is an example of the "new way" to interest children in nonfiction. The boy drifts through his imaginative fantasy land, but in doing so offers up a lot of information on redwoods. This is a wonderful book for both the reluctant reader and the confident one who may be seeking information about these fascinating trees. The art work is very appealing and meshes perfectly with the storyline. In the back of the book is a brief essay on "Redwoods in Danger." Did you know that redwoods can even "make their own rain?"

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful AND Informative, March 22, 2009

By 

Elizabeth Schroeter (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Redwoods (Hardcover)

My favorite books as a kid were always the ones that taught me about something. Jason Chin's illustrations are beautiful and spark the imagination while his storytelling has much to teach little readers about the natural wonders of redwoods.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for the Elementary Classroom!, January 31, 2010

By 

The Book Nosher (Bainbridge Island, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Redwoods (Hardcover)

This picture book is a clever blend of facts and fantasy. The facts are in the very readable text, where we learn a lot about those most magical of trees--the redwoods. The fantasy comes in the form of imaginative illustrations that guide us throughout the 32 page book.

While waiting for a train, a young boy picks up a copy of a book called Redwoods. As the boy starts to read about the trees, the background changes to fit the story. For instance, as he learns that the ancestors of the redwoods lived during the Jurassic period, dinosaurs appear outside the train window. Or when he reads that a tree can live more more than 2,000 years, he finds himself seated between two men from the Roman Empire. It's an imaginative and fun way to learn about the endangered redwood tree.

The watercolor illustrations do an amazing job of highlighting the facts. Perspective is shown when the boy reads that researchers discovered a tree in 2006 that was 379.1 feet tall. Turn the page and you read that that's "six stories taller than the Statue of Liberty." And the picture shows the Statue of Liberty against the backdrop of a redwood tree.

There's a lot contained in these pages. For example, here are some interesting facts about redwoods:

"When a redwood is injured, the tree will often sprout new trunks that look like miniature versions of the tree itself."

"...redwoods have an ingenious way of collecting water: They make their own rain! When the fog rolls in, it condenses on the redwood's needles, and whatever moisture isn't absorbed then falls to the ground to be soaked up by the tree's roots."

"Some animals, like red tree voles, live their whole lives in the treetops and never see the ground."

Elementary-aged kids will enjoy reading Redwoods. Nature and non-fiction buffs will automatically be drawn to this book. But I also think that reluctant readers will find themselves pulled in because it's just so interesting. The book succeeds by being both beautifully drawn and chock full of facts. If I were a first through fourth grade teacher, I'd want to make sure my classroom contained a copy of Redwoods.