Redwoods
By Jason Chin
Illustrated by Jason Chin
Neal Porter Books/Roaring Brook Press, 2009
ISBN #1596434309
PB
Ages 4-8
“Redwoods have shallow root systems that travel more than one hundred feet from the tree. They help the trees stand, and they need all the help they can get because…
they are the tallest living things on the planet. Redwoods regularly grow to be more than 200 feet tall.”
As young boy waits for the subway, he picks up a book and suddenly is transported into the world of redwoods. He experiences the redwoods through the art as the text relates the factual information. Packed with fascinating facts, this mix of nonfiction and fantasy conveys the information in a natural progression from the start of time to the role in the rain forest to the tallest living tree. Upon his return, he races off, leaving the book for the next adventurer.
The book ends with additional information and an author’s note. While I’m not usually a fan of mixing fiction and nonfiction, this book had such fascinating information that I continued reading, and then reread it. Children will likely find the book appealing, but care should be taken to point out the fictional aspects of the story.
Activity 1
Look up information about temperate rain forests. Identify the layers found in all rain forests. (emergent, canopy, understory, forest floor)
This site has information about the layers of a rainforest and excellent links.
Enchanted learning has basic facts about rainforests in general.
Experience the rainforest in pictures.
Activity 2
Look up the average height of three trees in your area. Create a bar graph to compare the heights of those trees with that of the tallest redwood.
Another book about redwoods:
The Ever-Living Tree: The Life and Times of a Coast Redwood by Linda Vieira and Christopher Canyon
Redwood Links
Visit this site for more useful information about redwood trees.
- Save the Redwoods League
- Redwood National & State Parks
- Humboldt State University: Redwood Forest Ecology
- Sequoia Sempervirens Wikipedia Entry
Take a Photo tour
Fuse 8 Production also has a review and links to other blog reviews
National Science Standard: organisms and their environment
Review copy from TWU Librarian’s Choices Best 100 Books Committee from publishers
Shirley,
Redwoods are so incredible. You have provided some great activities, too. I will be “looking up” your links (I couldn’t resist the pun
)
See that you are a judge for the Cybils too. Isn’t it exciting?
Thanks! It’s a unique book. Yes, I’m excited about the Cybils. I’m looking forward to my round.
Loved this book!
I recently saw a National Geographic special about redwoods, and they were doing all the things mentioned in the book. It was so good to see how big these trees actually are.