Our theme this month is going to be books about trees as I prepare to host the Festival of the Trees carnival at Growing with Science blog . 
Starting out July with a bang is The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-ups by Gina Ingoglia.
You learn to expect high quality books from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and this wonderful book is no exception. First of all, the information is top notch. Gina Ingoglia is associated with the garden, and she knows her trees. She also knows children, as she has written numerous children’s books. Her experience shows as she strikes just the right note to enlighten the reader.
The watercolor illustrations are deceptively simple, almost childlike, but also charming. If you look closely, however, you will see all the important details used for identification are accurately depicted, for example the page showing all the different patterns found in the bark of trees. It turns out that Ingoglia has studied the fine art of botanical illustration.
Put all these ingredients together and you get a book that will likely be passed down from generation to generation. The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-ups is a must for any child (or adult!) interested in trees, plants and/or nature.
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 96 pages
Publisher: Brooklyn Botanic Garden (October 7, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1889538434
ISBN-13: 978-1889538433
For more information:
A thematic list of trees at The Miss Rumphius Effect
Tree Science Activities at Growing With Science
Nonfiction Monday is a blogging celebration of nonfiction books for kids. For more information, stop by Anastasia Suen’s Nonfiction Monday page. This week’s post is at 5 Great Books.
