One Small Place in a Tree (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12) [Hardcover]

Barbara Brenner (Author), Tom Leonard (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12

Deep in the forest . . .

A bear sharpens her claws on a tree trunk. The scratched bark chips; a tiny hole forms. Timber beetles tunnel inside. The hole grows bigger and bigger.

In lyrical prose, Barbara Brenner reveals the fascinating happenings in one small place. She explains how, over many years, the rough hole transforms into a cozy hollow -- home to salamanders, tree frogs, a family of white-footed mice. Tom Leonard’s absorbing illustrations take you beneath the bark to a hidden world. His warm, lifelike depictions of squirrels and bluebirds, snakes and spiders show the splendor that dwells in the most unexpected places.

So stop. Observe. Explore your natural world. If you look closely enough, you will surely find . . . one small place that is home for something.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Reviewed with Barbara Brenner's One Small Place by the Sea.

Gr. 2-4. These companion books offer a glimpse of nature in action by zeroing in on "one small place" teeming with living things. By the Sea takes an up-close look at a tide pool, briefly describing the timing of the tides and how the changes affect tide pool inhabitants, while giving a more in-depth explanation of the complex interdependence of the plants and animals in their unique environment. In One Small Place, a bear uses a tree as a scratching post, thus beginning the chain of events that leads to a large hole that becomes home to a variety of forest animals. Brenner makes the science enjoyable and understandable, and Leonard's highly detailed, realistic illustrations provide great visual aid. These attractive volumes will nicely complement a science unit on ecology. Lauren Peterson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Barbara Brenner's curiosity about the world ranges far and wide. Her interests are reflected in the wide scope of her quality fiction and nonfiction. Some of her best-selling titles include Wagon Wheels and Voices: Poetry and Art from Around the World, which was an ALA Notable Book for Children and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. One Small Place in a Tree is a companion book to the striking One Small Place by the Sea. Barbara Brenner lives with her husband, artist Fred Brenner, in Hawley, Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (March 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068817180X
• ISBN-13: 978-0688171803
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #753,227 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great science lesson, April 1, 2005

By 

Melissa Sack (georgia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: One Small Place in a Tree (Library Binding)

One small place by in a Tree takes the reader on an imaginary journey to a forest where a brown bear is clawing a tree trunk. A hole is made from the claw marks. Then timber beetles eat away at the wood inside. The hole grows bigger and bigger. It starts to die inside because bacteria has set in. The tree then becomes home to many woodland animals.


The book was very informative. I learned a lot about forests and ecology while reading this book.

I would recommend it to all parents who wish to give their child an appreciation of nature, and to every teacher as a curriculum-enrichment aid.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Trees, July 30, 2008

By 

D. Cortesi - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: One Small Place in a Tree (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12) (Hardcover)

I absolutely loved this book and so did my students. I highly recommend this book to be a part of a classroom science library.