Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
In a nutshell
Illustrator: Cris Arbo
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 10
Dawn Publications, 1999 ISBN: 978-1883220983
Early one morning in the fall an acorn fell from a tree to the ground below and there it lay until spring when it sent a pale green shoot up towards the sun. With moisture and food from the soil and light from the sun the shoot grew into a little plant and thence into a little oak tree.
Over the years the sapling had to contend with many creatures and plants wanting to eat it and compete with it. There were bitter winter storms, terrible forest fires, and men with axes, and yet the oak sapling still managed to grow into a fine big tree. Its leaves branches, and acorns gave shelter and nourishment to countless creatures and then, at last there came a time when the tree grew old and its time for life was over. It’s time for giving life to others was, as yet over, however.
This beautifully illustrated picture book with its simple expressive text tells the story of an oak tree with an obvious appreciation for the cycle of life and the beauty of nature. Children will come to appreciate the though the oak tree has gone, its life force lives on in the living things that have taken its place. Truly the cycle of life in nature is a wondrous thing.
