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When the Trees Held Their Breath

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When the Trees Held Their Breath By Anthony James Donnelly Antix Press Incorporated

Man is known for technologically advancing his world and not giving a damn what the consequences may be. In his debut illustrated children’s novel, “When the Trees Held Their Breath,” Anthony James Donnelly presents the future landscape of a dying world and the drastic measures nature takes in seeing to its survival.

The story begins with the planet battered by acid rain, pollution contaminating our land and water and debris littering our cities. Man’s ignorance causes Mother Earth to rebel. Nature would no longer be silent. Unwilling to end their time upon this earth, the trees forced their roots deeper in search of water. All matter of creatures cried out to Mother Earth sharing her torment.

And man walks through his life as if nothing is wrong. He does not see the permanent destruction his advancements are causing. How days are lost in darkness, lakes are turning into toxic waste pools.

The trees wonder how they can end the suffering? Will anything survive? It is decided throughout nature’s realm that the animals will nest in the earth, that birds would refuse to sing and that the trees would hold their breath. Surely, someone would take notice.

As in most books written in the past and today, only when man is near that “no-turning back stage” does he take notice? In Donnelly’s book, it was only when the temperature of the planet rose did the people look to the trees and pray for forgiveness.

“When the Trees Held their Breath” is a book that needed to be written. The illustrations by Larry Whitler are haunting. He presents the dark cloak we cast upon our world and in the end the beauty of hope. Put aside the animal character tales and read this book to your children. Having already educated them on the subject of recycling, conservation, long-term planning for the future, this book will serve as a bold reminder of what we are capable of. We must teach these future developers, scientists, and parents of the world, for we are the voice of nature.

--Denise Fleischer, GWN Online, editor ...

An excellent book for young readers to be introduced to the basic concept of environmental issues - the negative impacts mankind has had, and the role that trees have as oxygen providers. The accompanying artwork brings the simple message to life.

A timeless and timely environmentally awakening book which
once read cannot leave the mind of the reader! The illustrations
accent well the written words of Anthony Donnelly in conveying
one man's opinion of what "progress" has done to our fragile world. A small book with a powerful message that needs to be read often , and to many. Though this book is said to be written for the young adult, I for one, as an adult , became engrossed quickly with all that it had to say. I would recommend this book to all readers especially Christian people who care about the environment. The ending is so refreshing and caused me to feel I was taking a deep, fresh breath of clean air.

What a wake up and smell the coffee kind of book. Not only is it well written, but it makes you stop and THINK. This book, though it appears to be small, is packed with a punch! Bravo to the author! Beautifully written with some of the best illustration I've seen in a long time! I'm getting copies for all my friends and family! I suggest everyone go out and get a copy or two! I have a feeling this is a book that will be around for a very long time!