While a Tree Was Growing [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Jane Bosveld (Author), Daniel O'Leary (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 9, 1997 | Age Level: 6 and up

Here is the story of the oldest living sequoia -- possibly the oldest living thing on earth -- whose wondrous life spans the Trojan war (it was 150 years old and 75 feet high when the Greeks delivered their gift horse), the coming of the Buddha, Christ, and Mohammed (by then, two thousand years old, over 270 feet high), the settling of America, and the 1996 Presidential election. Yes, it's still growing, high up in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Like a unique biological time-line, While a Tree Was Growing juxtaposes the life of a single tree with a chronology of world events to narrate 3,500 years of history, natural science, anthropology, and more. Large, generously illustrated two-page spreads are flanked by columns, with historic milestones on the left and a growth chart recording the treeís progress on the right. Stitched into the middle of the book is a fold-out 11O x 33O poster. Illustrated by Daniel O'Leary.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Highly recommended. -- Clark County School District

From the Inside Flap

High on the western slopes of California's Sierra Nevada grows the giant sequoia. Called wawonas and moguchi by Native Americans, the "big ones" by European settlers, and Sequoia-dendron giganteum by scientists, they are the largest trees in the world and among the oldest of all living things.

From science writer Jane Bosveld comes the story of one giant sequoia. We are there for its chancy beginnings as a seedling over three thousand years ago; we chart its magnificent growth-first straight up, to claim a piece of the crowded forest sky, and then out to diameter the equivalent of forty people holding hands in a ring.

Re-creating the tree's life, the author shows how it lived through hundreds of forest fires (a substance in its bark prevents it from burning); housed birds, animals, and insects by the millions; and was visited by generations of American Indians, including the Miwoks and Wukchumnis.

At the same time the tree offers a unique chronology, a living time line. While the tree was growing . . . the Greeks tricked the Trojans with a giant horse. While the tree was growing . . . Siddhartha Guatama is born, becomes Buddha, the "awakened one," and founds a new religion. While the tree was growing . . . Cleopatra rules Egypt, Leonardo da Vinci paints the Mona Lisa, Shakespeare writes Hamlet, Thomas Edison invents the photograph, and astronauts walk on the moon.

And while that same tree was growing . . . you were born.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (January 9, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761105409
• ISBN-13: 978-0761105404
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,549,210 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars While A Tree Was Growing, May 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: While a Tree Was Growing (Hardcover)

A great book that teaches both the history of the world and at the same time the importance of preserving our forests. The book is about one giant sequoia and the great historical events that have occurred during its lifetime. The tree is still standing. The book covers all that the tree has had to endur (insects, fires)and while it was growing Jesus was born, Cleopatra was born, the Wright Brothers flew, man walked on the moon and we were born. Beautiful illustrations and a wonderful tear out time line.