Trees and how they grow are the subject of this clear, handsome introduction. The double-page-spread illustrations in line and colored pencil are on parchment and pastel papers that set off pieces of the page in defined panels and columns. With a spread on all kinds of leaves, there's a panel that explains photosynthesis. With the general information about leaves, roots, bark, flowers, and seeds, and how they change through the seasons, there are also inserts about, for example, the oldest tree or the baobab tree or the tall sequoias. Most dramatic is the view of a great tree trunk in cross-section, with its growth rings clearly marked. The detailed botanical drawings are carefully labeled, and elementary science students as well as nature lovers will find facts here and a quiet sense of wonder. (Reviewed February 1, 1997)

The primary text uses simple analogies ('Water moves up the trunk as if it is being sucked through a straw') to explore the basics of tree physiology, while sidebars provide intriguing facts about exotic species. Unique full-page textured illustrations etched on parchment and pastel papers and filled with colored pencil effectively convey the subtle textures of tree barks and leaves.

A verdant testimony to the noble plants that shade our lawns and line our streets. Dorros (Isla, 1995, etc.) goes back to the basic botany of mostly temperate-zone trees, presenting leaves, roots, bark, flowers, and fruit in simple language. He also explains processes such as photosynthesis, the movement of xylem and phloem, and the tree's ``ring system'' of charting its own age. Using sidebars to his advantage, Dorros sets forth interesting details—e.g., how a baobab stores water—without interrupting the flow of the main text. The science isn't new, but Schindler's illustrations portray it so vigorously that readers will almost hear leaves rustling overhead. Textures abound, from scratchy-looking bark to the smooth round bottoms of acorns. Readers will be exploring woods, sidewalks, and yards- -anyplace there are trees—with new eyes. (Picture book/nonfiction. 5-8)"