REMEMBRANCE DAY: September 11Memories/Histories

 On this Infamous date, September 11, many reading this post will have an instantaneous memory of where you were and what/how your reactions unfolded on that morning. For an entire generation, this momentous day is only known as history. Anyone too young at the time to realize what was happening, or born in the last twenty-three years, has learned of the events indirectly, through the consequences of that day's direct and indirect results- decades of distant wars, hyper-patriotism and polarization in politics, an extended recession and family struggles, as well as other shifts, perhaps less directly related. 

There has been no lack of movies and books and documentaries about the time surrounding 9/11 events and subsequent changes in American society. Some are objective, some present points of view that can make hate or anger even worse. Among the objective accounts are books for children. I'll use this day to link to some titles that contain healing and other positive developments from such a horrific time. It's of particular interest to me that many involve trees in various ways.  Prior posts include THIS VERY TREE, HERE, THE TREE OF LIFE, HERE, LEAFY LANDMARKS: Travels With Trees HERE, and WITNESS TREES: Historic Moments and the Trees Who Watched Them Happen, HERE.

CAPSTONE BOOKS, 2016

But here's a  book directly about the events of 9/11 and below this I share a resource related to this particular series of events that day. It reveals the in-the-moment decisions of everyday folks who lacked answers but not heart. Folks who traded safe havens for a sea rescue for desperate people rushing to the harbor. SAVED BY THE BOATS: The Heroic Sea Evacuation of September 11, is written by Julie Gassman and illustrated by Steve Moors. At the time of its release It somehow missed my radar entirely. 

For me, at least, time continues to shift this potent memory deeper onto the history shelves. But I encountered a short documentary video about the boat rescues that day. With SO MANY things to absorb and process, the boat rescue operation had receded in my memory, overwhelmed by other horrific images: falling towers, clouds of ashy debris, and ensuing painful days and weeks and months of personal stories and global changes. This video brought it all back.

It is an aspect of that day, those times, of the people we really are, that compels me to to dip back a few years to share this book, but also to urge you to watch this short (11-12 minutes) documentary, featuring the actual people involved and narrated by Tom Hanks. Watching brought me right back to that day, those feelings, and such powerful emotions keep events like these steeped in meaning. When relegated to historic status, young people need ways to find empathetic connection, which they can get by viewing this video. Please watch, and then find as many others to share it with as possible. As the subtitle says, resilience is at the heart of our hopes for survival as humans, and as a planet. Even the most unthinkable disasters can be responded to with action and hope:

Here's the video link:  BOATLIFT: AN UNTOLD TALE OF 9/11 RESILIENCE

Help make this DAY OF REMEMBRANCE only one day among many, and demonstrate HOPE. And think back to that time itself, and the years before, when we as a society sought out our common ground rather than our differences.

THE TREE OF LIFE: Hope Is Priceless, Timeless

I am a fan of books about nature, especially trees. Okay, books about birds, too, and families, and inspiring people... and animals. It's easy to see why I resist naming favorites among anything, especially books. There are so many wonderful things to read about and learn about. Click any of the above to see that my comments about such books reveal my admiration and appreciation for the talent that created the books but also of the subject being addressed or the story being told.

ROCKY POND BOOKS, 2024

This, then is a book that hits my heart across many waves of "favorites". THE TREE OF LIFE: How a Holocaust Sapling Inspired the World is written by Elisa Boxer and illustrated by Arianna Rozentsveig. It is a storytelling masterpiece, but it's a story from actual events. About an actual tree, and its offspring. About the power of community to serve as family when family is being destroyed. About the continuity of life... and of HOPE. 

The center of this account is a tree, a maple sapling. With subdued and subtle illustrations and text that tells enough, but not too much, encounter life within the walls of a concentration camp during the Holocaust, one of the few camps that allowed a small group of children to continue living, if you could call it that. It portrays the history with a  balance between visible struggle and hardship with aspects that are softened, somehow familiar, with smiles of excitement and hope. When it comes to the prisoners in these camps, modern readers sometimes question: why didn't they rebel or resist? First, those efforts did occur, but nearly all accounts of such were suppressed and denied. In fact, though, this is a story of resistance, offering details that involve helping a sapling grow while helping young children learn about their heritage's celebrate their holidays, and hold tight to their identities. 

And, hold tight to hope. 

Few survived that horror, but those few who did kept that tree, and their hope, alive. When relief eventually reached the few who remained, a five foot tall tree was waiting with them. It became a symbol of LIFE, of HOPE, of WITNESS to the truth of history. That surviving tree became an honored landmark, but it also provided seeds and cuttings to grow into more trees of hope. One of those offspring trees concludes this account in an unlikely place, but one that also witnessed death and celebrates hope. 

A book with this much power and depth could seem an unlikely choice for a picture book, but that assumption would be wrong. The target age here is wide, and welcoming. Readers (or listeners) of many ages will bring to it their own experiences, their own thoughts and feelings about trees, and communities, and hope. And they will take from it what each needs, regardless of age or background. And all will savor the rich illustrations and powerful but accessible text.

In the ongoing public discussions about education, about "what kids need", about grit or resilience or test scores, the truth is that young people need many things, and most of all they need good books and good stories. In this case, this nonfiction treatment of a powerful symbol of LIFE and HOPE is a work of art, and of heart. 

Did You Know...the Woodland Underground Is a Communication Hub?

DAWN PUBLICATIONS, 2022

Are you ready for some mind-blowing discoveries about the hidden underworld network of the forest? It's all here for your jaw-dropping awe in LISTEN TO THE LANGUAGE OF THE TREES: A Story of How Forests Communicate Underground, written by Tera Kelley and illustrated by Marie Hermansson.

This is an excellent presentation of emerging science information about the interdependence of the living things in a woodland, from animals to fungi to plants. The latest studies of this until-recently-unknown process of underground connections and communications among the root systems of the tallest and oldest of trees to the smallest of sprouts and even to the web-fine threaded outreaches of vast fungal networks is only now gaining the attention it deserves. The biodiversity, natural dangers, and interspecies supports that have evolved over eons and across global reaches are amazing, sparking enormous curiosity in readers. 

Back matter in this offering presents direct information about the various living aspects of the woodland setting, above and below ground. Other back pages reveal links to science and socio-emotional learning, clarify what IS known and what is still being investigated, and also suggest activities that young audiences/learners may want to attempt.
It's a fascinating picture book for many ages.

KIDS CAN PRESS, 2021

On a related note, another nonfiction picture book that presents some of the latest science research about the life cycles and functions of trees within an intricate  biome can be read and compared in BEFORE WE STOOD TALL: From Small Seed to Mighty Tree. Written by Jessica Kulekjian and illustrated by Madeline Kloepper. This approach to conveying the role and life cycles of trees in our environment is lyrical, lilting, and informative. it challenges readers to explore the earthy impressionistic illustrations and layers of scientific information within it's minimal, moving narrative. The effective use of patterns and repetition in phrases and themes is powerful and effective. Simple back matter organizes extended insights and information without being overwhelming. 
This is a marvel of a book about the marvel of trees on our planet.

If you have a young person in your life who already shows concern for and interest in our natural environment, especially trees, these could both be life-changing gifts, or even compelling library check-outs. Do them (and you) a favor and get to the root of these important truths about trees.

I Think That I Shall Never See... TREES Like These! (Nodding to Joyce Kilmer, Here)

If you've been reading my posts in past years, you'll have noted my fondness for books involving nature, especially trees. A few previous reviews can be found HERE, HERE, and HERE. With a record-breaking hot, dry season upon us, trees have been in the news, both as shelter and atmosphere-saving as well as becoming endangered by ever-worsening climate change. It's always a good time to share picture books about trees, but this is an especially ideal time to develop deep appreciation for the lengthy and complex processes involved as trees grow from seed to maturity.

Candlewick, 2021

To start at the very beginning, as a familiar song lyric says, is a very good place to start. That advice finds a clever iteration in ZEE GROWS A TREE, written by Elizabeth Rusch and illustrated by Will Hillenbrand. The long spans of time required to grow from sprout to mature tree are made more relatable by linking fictional Zee Cooper's birth (into a tree-farming family) with the very day when a Douglas Fir seedling sprouts in its pot. Children can recognize their own growth landmarks and developmental changes in Zee's patterns over time, as well as empathizing with her deep love and commitment to her tree. As with people, including Zee, times can be good AND bad in the lengthy life cycle of a tree.

This is a gentle and relatable fiction story used to reveal the growth patterns of douglas fir trees, loving relationships, and one family's lives as tree farmers. 

This lovely story is enhanced by brief, focused, and non-intrusive  sidebar content on each page, paralleling the needs, growth, and purposes of a tree with the growth patterns of Zee, for whom the tree was planted. 
The subdued and direct story and expository text are perfectly paired with realistic scenes, natural colors, and varying perspectives to give young readers a clear understanding of the science as well as the sentiments portrayed.

On that note, this seemingly fictional picture book incorporates many qualities of nonfiction, beyond the sidebar content. There is a simple index in back matter that points out pages with specific information about aspects of trees, Douglas firs in particular. The brief author note indicates ways in which a holiday evergreen can be enjoyed without having to cut down a healthy living tree, but also pointing out that this business practice can be a sustainable economic option, if managed correctly.

Several suggested readings are offered, and an acknowledgement on the last page indicates experts whose readings and advice contributed to the accuracy of the content. Even the copyright routines are formatted in the shape of a fir tree. All are details worth sharing.

ABRAMS BYR, 2022

A second and equally graceful offering is ALL FROM A WALNUT, written by Ammi-Joan Paquette and illustrated by Felicita Sala. In this case, a walnut tree's life journey is explored through a gift from grandfather, a walnut that appears on Emilia's nightstand. In this case, her age and natural curiosity lead to an ongoing conversation with her aging grandfather, who was once "a little nut like you", but living far across a distant ocean. 

In the course of their discussions Emilia learns that one of the towering trees in her yard grew from her grandfather's traveling-from-home walnut, and the second tree, also tall but not yet fully grown, grew from a walnut given to her mother at about the same age as Emilia is now. 

With gentle but evocative  illustrations, this multi-generational story is both loving and intense, incorporating the struggles of immigration, patience, grief, and hope. The closing scenes are both satisfying and stimulating, offering a spark to imagine how many more generations of life can be found in the lifetime of a tree, walnut by walnut.

Both picture books are rich  in detail, wrapping meaningful information in heartfelt stories. Both are adeptly illustrated to reveal both immediate emotions and relationships over time, allowing young readers to connect with  those years passing in a personal way. Both invite young readers to examine the details within the art, including subtle insights to changing seasons and surroundings along with botanical aspects and observations of trees. Both, in my opinion, will spark curiosity and appreciation of the magical reality of trees, both the science and the storytelling within their long lives. 

And BOTH are wonderful picture books that just might serve to launch similar traditions within families you know and love.

Another Look: Cybils Nonfiction Nominees of Note!

 I traveled recently, after NOT traveling, and returned to find a potted plant looking dead. After apologizing to it and watering it liberally, I reflected on the resilience of plants: blades of grass popping through rock or sidewalk crevices, trees that scar after lightning strikes but live on, seeds that can lie dormant for centuries, even millennia, to sprout when conditions allow. 

So, I spoke to that miserable, withered plant daily, urged the one or two struggling stems to keep fighting, and cheered when other leaves or stems joined in the struggle to lift and turn to the light. The entire plant is back, drinking steadily and basking in southern sunlight each day. I've even noted that morning holds excitement for me as I notice the restful darkness has made a clear difference in the overall recovery. I'll be more aware of needs next time BEFORE leaving them in such a state, but it was an important reminder to me of faith, hope, and patience.

I begin with this because trees are even greater wonders of survival, strength, and successful lives. Two of the nominees in the elementary/middle grade category for nonfiction are especially good examples of this quality of trees. 

As the song lyric says: Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start...

Kids Can Press, 2021

Before We Stood Tall: From Small Seed to Mighty Tree is written by Jessica Kulekjian and illustrated by Madeline Kloepper. 

This approach to conveying the role and life cycles of trees in our environment is lyrical, lilting, and informative. It challenges readers to explore the earthy impressionistic illustrations and layers of scientific information within its minimal, moving narrative. The effective use of patterns and repetition in phrases and themes is powerful and effective. Simple back matter organizes extended insights and information without being overwhelming. 

A marvel of a book about the marvel of trees on our planet in their earliest stages of life and growth.

Contrast the focus of the above book with the big-picture portrayal of a particular tree(s) in PANDO: A Living Wonder Of Trees. It is the magical creation of graphic storyteller Turine Viet-Tu Tran and Kate Allen Fox.  Named One of the Best Books of 2021 by School Library Journal, this is a MUST SEE new picture book that has won attention and awards already.

The luminous, ethereal, and inspiring illustrations elevate an already important and informative nonfiction picture book to the five-out-of-five stars I give it. Many folks, young and old, have been learning about ways forests communicate and connect at the underground level. This is a separate look at a massive single organism, one involving 47000-plus apparently separate locust trees. It reveals the unique way in which a single plant can extend itself underground. As a result, the leaves all bud and turn green simultaneously, they turn vibrant yellow in fall and drop at the same time, in chorus. 

Small facts inserted on most pages supplement a lovely, lyrical text. Pando is a very specific aspen organism in Utah, the largest of all known, world-wide. Early pages indicate that the multi-verse tree emerged shortly after the ice age and long before human life was known to coexist on this continent. 

The information is as jaw-dropping as the images are soothing and meditative. 

Give this one a close look, and if sharing with young readers, pair with THE WISDOM OF TREES, by Lita Judge.

And always give plants a chance, indoors or out, even when they seem to have given up on life. As a matter of fact, that's not bad advice for any life. A little improvement in conditions and some sincere encouragement can go a long way when it comes to resilience.