Unchopping a Tree

Description

This author pretends what would happen if you tried to put a tree together after it had been chopped down. “Start with the leaves, the small twigs, and the nest that have been shaken, ripped, or broken off by the fall; these must be gathered and attached once again to their respective places.” The writer gives directions for an imaginary project. Can you really put a tree back together like this? No! Is it fun to read about the idea? Yes! I like this part of the book a lot: “However the core is not the part of the trunk that conducted life from the roots up to the branches and back again.” The illustrations look like a combination of painting and drawing. The artist uses soft colors. There are some words that might be challenging for younger children like “fixative,” “adhesive,” “speculation,” and “subcutaneous.” I think older kids and grownups will like it. “Finally the moment arrives when the last sustaining piece is removed and the tree stands again on its own. It is as though its weight for a moment stood on your heart.” This book is interesting to me.