Tree of Life: The World of the African Baobab

Tree Tales

by Barbara Bash

Text and pictures document the life cycle of this amazing tree of the African savannah, and portrays the animals and people it helps to support

Genres: Picture Books, Africa, Childrens, Science, Nonfiction, Animals, Geography

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Barbara Bash grew up in Barrington, Illinois and has worked for many years as a calligrapher, illustrator and teacher of book arts and botanical drawing. She currently lives in upstate New York.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, informative story about Africa's baobab tree (one of my favorite trees)! I appreciate how Bash includes a traditional story about how the baobab came to be (here's a clue--the tardy and careless hyena was involved in the planting!) but continued mostly with more factual information about the tree (which can live to be one thousand years old) and the creatures (including humans) who inhabit it or use it for food or shelter. I think my favorites were the bush babies ;-) The information is all conveyed in a pleasant and engaging way, more lyrical than dry, and the illustrations are stellar. Highly recommended!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of a number of informational picture-books about trees that author/illustrator Barbara Bash has published - others include In the Heart of the Village : The World of the Indian Banyan Tree , Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus and Ancient Ones: The World of the Old-Growth Douglas Fir - this engaging title highlights one of the stars of the arboreal world: the magnificent baobab. Opening with a !Kung folk belief about the baobab - that it was planted by the hyena, when the Great Spirit was allowing each animal to plant a tree, but that the hyena, being late, and rather confused, planted it upside down - it profiles the wealth of species that depend upon it for sustenance, and the mini ecosystems incorporated in its body. From the many insects that feed upon its bark and foliage, to the birds who nest in its branches and trunk - not to mention the larger mammals, from bush babies to humans, who eat its fruit and flowers, or the honey made in its hollows - it becomes clear that baobab truly is a life-giving tree.

Informative and engaging, Tree of Life: The World of the African Baobab is everything that a natural history picture-book should be: educational, entertaining, and beautifully illustrated! The watercolor artwork is just lovely, with deep, vivid colors, and realistic depictions of flora and fauna. The African savannah really comes to life in Bash's paintings, which are full-page, with the text appearing in the lighter, background portion of the artwork. I learned quite a bit, and, as should always be the case with good non-fiction, came away with a desire to know more - if the hyena planted the first baobab, according to the !Kung, then which trees did the other animals plant? - which means that I will undoubtedly be picking up the three other titles in Bash's Tree Tales series. A great big thank you to my goodreads friends Chandra and Kathryn, who alerted me to this one - I might never have picked it up, otherwise, and that would have been a shame! Highly recommended to all young tree-lovers and naturalists, and to anyone looking for good children's non-fiction.

[Srujan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would give it more stars if I could. While it is a children's book, I enjoyed this book so much that I am going to finish all 4 books in the series and then do detailed reviews for the same. 😊❤️

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid and competent illustrations accompany factual text about the African Baobab tree. The text might be a little dry for many kids but it focuses on the wildlife that inhabit the tree as do the very accurate illustrations. The illustrations of the smaller animals and birds are particularly impressive. There are a couple of sentences about mythology of the tree and a couple more about how important the baobab tree is to the African people but they kind of lump all African people together. For example, "The African people also give each old baobab its own special name beginning with 'Um,' which means Mother." Considering how many languages are spoken in the regions that have baobabs, I find it hard to believe that this is true everywhere.

I figured out at what point in the baobab's yearly cycle I was in Africa (not nearly the quantity of wildlife that could inhabit it unfortunately but still a lot) and it brought back a lot of great memories. I learned quite a bit that I didn't know for example that they can live over 1,000 years!

I had two problems with the book:

Formatting: I didn't like the font at all and found it harder to read out loud. I also found the lack of paragraphs didn't help.

The information: I felt it was too heavily weighted on the side of the wildlife that inhabit the trees. The book implied that all of these creatures live in the same trees. I wish there was a little less about the gobs of creatures which grew a little tedious and more about how big an area the trees grow in, what the climate is like (other than rainy and not rainy) or more about biology. But it's already dry and that might make it worse.

What would probably make it more interesting would be a little more mythology, differentiating between tribes. Just a couple of sentences per tribal story wouldn't take up that much space. There could also be a little more about the people using the tree rather than the two sentences currently in it.

3.5 stars but I'm round down because of the freaking font and difficulty reading out loud. My kids got bored.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous book! ½ star off from me because of the honey page, but given that it’s a factual book I probably shouldn’t do that. I was just so disappointed because this is an otherwise wonderful account of the baobab tree, how it grows, its seasonal changes and entire lifespan, how it provides for a variety of species.

It’s a perfect book on the subject of ecosystems, in this case all within the one tree/species of tree.

I was fascinated by every page, and was particularly taken with the behavior of the yellow-billed hornbill birds, how mother and chicks, and then chicks, are able to hide themselves in the tree, eating through a very tiny slit until the time is ideal for flight. So cool! This is a very educational book but it’s written in such as way as to be very entertaining.

The illustrations are luxurious and gorgeous and just perfect. Each picture takes up whole two page spreads, and the text is overwritten on the pictures.

I would have loved a section at the end with more in depth information for older readers because I got so interested in this tree species as I was reading, but I suppose it’s also done its job if it inspires readers to learn further using other books and materials.

I so admire author-illustrators who can create a book such as this all by themselves.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just happened to catch my eye as I was chasing Firecracker around the library. Whilst I flipped through the first few pages, she managed to climb up 3 shelves. So I grabbed the book and we went home...

I have always been fascinated by the baobab. That is thrives in an often barren environment, but is very different than cacti, is amazing. This book taught me more about baobabs, through a few pages of drawings, than I thought there was to know about them!

Trees are just amazing, and the baobab is one of the kings. I'm going to look for this author's other tree books for children at the library.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 An interesting picture book about how a wide variety of animals use the baobob tree to survive.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Baobab tree found in the dry savannah of Africa looks like it was planted upside down, the branches look like a root system. For most of the year, the tree is barren, it is only when the rains come that it leafs out and blooms. Mature trees have many hollows that specific species of birds use as their nests. Many insects also make their homes in the Baobab tree, some eat the bark while others eat the leaves. These insects provide food for the birds and snakes.
When the tree flowers out, bushbabies and fruit bats feast on the sweat nectar and spread the pollen. The flowers open up at night and then the petals fall of in the morning. Range animals enjoy eating the soft petals once they hit the ground. The fruit then develops, and the local baboons have a feast. The local people can usually find nests of honeybees in the tree, they are always careful to leave some honey and beeswax behind so that the colony does not collapse.
Even when not leafed out or producing fruit, the Baobab tree is a source of raw materials for humans and other creatures, especially elephants. The tree can store water for the humans and elephants in the dry season. With the power of their trunks, the elephants can rip large section of nutritious bark and wood from the tree.
This description of the complex ecosystem that each Baobab tree is provides a lesson in how complex nature is. It is a worthy addition to elementary school science classes where the topic is ecological interdependence.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An introductory science book, filled with facts about the ecology of baobabs. I was hoping for something 'friendlier,' perhaps giving me a better sense of the tree. How do the flowers smell? If I held a flower in my hand, how big would it be? Is the bark rough or smooth? Are there no lower branches? Did they break off? Do these trees ever grow in thick forests? Could I grow one of these trees in my backyard?

Needed: More about how the Africans used/use this tree. e.g.: Was it ever used for lumber/building?

I was left with many questions, but I suppose I can turn to the internet for answers.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always on the lookout for a good nature study book that is interesting, informative and engaging all without insulting a child's intelligence or looking down on them. This book was so interesting it has great illustrations and it goes through a Baobab trees life cycle taking note of how it gives life to the animals from elephants eating the bark to the birds that nest in it's branches.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A treat for arboreal enthusiasts of "The Little Prince".

[Katero · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book, and the pics in side is so beautiful.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent science primer for kids that describes the lifecycle and ecosystem the Baobab tree supports in the African savannah.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tree of Life: The World of the African Baobab
Bash, Barbara
"on a list of books recommended for teaching books to students on themes and ideas: beautiful poetic story that shows the thrill of nature, and culture grown and raised around this remarkable tree, how life is sprung from its roots and how its life affects others, and how its death is able to bring life to many other animals and trees in the African savanna
"

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

See : Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai by Claire A. Nivola, Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa by Jeanette Winter, The Mangrove Tree: Planting Trees to Feed Families by Susan L. Roth, Tree of Life: The World of the African Baobab by Barbara Bash, and The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins. And not a picture book: The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono.

[LeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Information on the tree itself and the various creatures who make use of it. Beautifully illustrated. Readable text. The font used contributes to the artistic impression, but may make it more challenging for struggling readers.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating long-term look at the life cycle of the baobab tree. The seasons play a big part in the lives of the animals in Africa and this part of the ecosystem is no exception. The kids (9, 7, 5) stayed engaged through the whole book. The illustrations are wonderful as well.

[Nellie K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone told me the story in Belgium in French 13-5 years ago.

[Teri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative-but not quite as good as This is the Tree.

[Gofita · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated book on the circle of life for the African Baobab. How it helps the animals and the landscape throughout its life.

[Peggy Hess Greenawalt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great children's book about an amazing African tree.