The Things Trees Know

Wisdom of Nature

by Douglas Wood

Find inspiration and comfort through short but insightful text, paired with simple nature illustrations. Trees have bared witness to so much and have weathered so many storms. For best-selling author Douglas Wood, they have always been teachers and sources of inspiration. In The Things Trees Know , Doug presents a whispering grove full of wisdom. His brief meditations portray the parallels between trees’ lives and ours. His insightful text and lovely pen-and-ink illustrations reveal the knowledge we can gain from trees. Walk this wooded trail and find a shaft of sunlight, a ray of hope, a living landmark, and perhaps the answer to a question or two. The Things Trees Know could change your outlook on life.

Genres: Inspirational

Hardcover

First published September 1, 2005

About the author

Composer, recording artist, wilderness guide, and self-taught naturalist-Douglas Wood is perhaps most widely known as the highly acclaimed author of OLD TURTLE, a 1993 ABBY Award winner and an International Reading Association Book of the Year. Author of several books for readers of all ages, Douglas says he is always seeking themes that are universally significant to both children and adults. His first book for Candlewick Press, GRANDAD'S PRAYERS OF THE EARTH-winner of the Christopher Medal for "affirming the highest value of the human spirit"-quietly explores the theme of grief and healing while celebrating a human connection to the natural world and the enduring spirit of love. Douglas Wood kept in mind someone very special to his own life when writing GRANDAD'S PRAYERS OF THE EARTH. "I feel I've been getting ready to write this book all my life, for it is about my wise and gentle hero, my Grandad. It's a prayer and a thank you, a walk in the woods, and a remembering smile; and it is for anyone who has ever had a woods to walk, a prayer to whisper, a hero to love."


Douglas Wood lives with his family in a log cabin on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minnesota.

Reviews

[J]

This was one of those books that my sister had randomly lying around her bookshelf while it caught my eye with its title and cover picture. Upon opening it I got a wonderful refresher and found that it was like my favorite newish group the "Advice From A(n)" series.

The author showed a real connection with his trees and used all aspects of it whether it was the plant itself, the surrounding elements that help to feed it or even those who used the tree for their own usage.

The illustrations were simplistic and with no color but they definitely added to the subject. Each showed the tree in a position to easily support the brief quote that offered its wisdom while also being simply peaceful.

All in all I wish that I had had more time with the book in hand so I could have pulled some of my more favorite quotes from the book. Instead this will have to starred for my later searches while I truly think that other nature-lovers may enjoy this quaint little book even if it is only for a once-through.

[Janča Kopicová]

Very cute and clever. I love the illustrations!🌳

fav quote:
"Keep your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground. Most of the time."

"Grow from the bottom up, from the inside out."

[Lyn]

I found this at work today, read it on a break. I liked it. But then I always like trees.

[Kelly]

Loved it.

[Diane]

Thoughtful and delightful. A must for lovers of Lake Superiors shores.

[Mandie]

A very short book sharing the wisdom of trees. My favorite: "Stand tall. But bend when you need to. "

[Miko Lovette]

Beautiful little poetry book.

[Chara]

This was a really cute book. Very simple with its little inspirational nuggets of thought, but that is what it was exactly going for. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful.

[Elizabeth O'Guin]

The sweetest little book of adages we can learn from trees, if we listen.

[Ashley Ortiz]

Great advice to live by. listen and watch trees for life lessons.

[Ella Laatsch]

Words to live by 🌳 sweet sweet reminders. Thank you to my magical coworker for gifting me this <3

[KP]

Picked this up in national forest gift shop.
This is one of the cutest short illustrated books. Maybe felt closer connection to it bc just spent days with the trees camping<3

[Grace]

I feel like a tree after reading this.

[Lori Coyle]

Short quotes, short book