The Tree

by Dana Lyons

An 800-year-old Douglas fir ponders the many things it has seen in the natural world as it hears the bulldozers tearing down the forest around it.

Genres: Picture Books, Nature, Childrens, Science, Poetry, Environment

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2002

Reviews

[Amalie]

I learned a lot. I felt such a respect and awe for the tree in the story. This is definitely a book for nature lovers may it be an adult or a child. The story is told by an ancient Douglas fir. It sings/recites all about what it has seen in its long life of eight hundred years.

This is how an 800 year old Douglas Fir actually looks like. I read in the website that this is taller than the Leaning Tower of Pisa.



Illustrations from the book.

[KC]

This is a lovely tale of the importance of trees and the danger our forests face with urbanization and foresting. The author wrote this book after spending time in Olympic Rain Forest-where my son works, hikes, and camps.

[Linda]

If you've ever spent time in the Pacific Rain Forests, you will begin to understand this song. The story is told by an ancient Douglas fir, of all it has seen in its long life of eight hundred years. The author shares that he spent time with this tree, listening to its 'song', thus the book was born. The words are beautifully illustrated by David Danioth in full colors, showing the forest life like the views of young owls learning to fly and feeling a grizzly's claws. When it projects its future, concern that it might be cut down, it asks, "who will take refuge in my shadow, if my shadow falls no more?" The book will add to books that celebrate and urge to protect the gifts of our earth. Proceeds go to several organizations, and added stories are at the back of the book.

[Chelsea DiCicco]

I saw this book at the library and thought, 'The Tree'- I like that title. I hadn't seen or heard of it, no prior encounter, no one talking to me about it... just went right in with no previous expectation or prior influence. I love most anything nature related, and I really love trees, so I thought, I'll give it a shot- how can you go wrong with a tree book? The cover was nice, but only "nice," don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with it, it just doesn't jump out at you. The colors are soft, not vibrant... mostly just soft and dark shades of greens.

I got home with a bundle of books, set this one down on the table. I was curious, so I sat down and opened it. After the end page, the very first page is the dedication page. The dedication page alone had so much thought and care put into it. I read it all. I turned the page. I was met with deeper information. It begins like this,

"To further your understanding of the environmental issues reflected in this book, please refer to the following charities. The Jane Goodall Institute advances the power of individuals to take informed and compassionate action to improve the environment of all living things. With Dr.Jane Goodall's words and example as guiding principles, the Institute inspires hope for a brighter future. Only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help. Only if we help shall all be saved." - Jane Goodall.

Okay, so Jane Goodall... on the top of my list of personal heroes. So we have that. THEN... the next page is the foreword, given by Julia Butterfly Hill, founder of Circle of Life Foundation, and a foreword by Musician Pete Seeger. So, I've had all of this wonderful information prior to the actual story, and I'm loving it.

I finally open up to the story. The illustration I am met with... breathtaking. Just overwhelmingly beautiful. The story itself, is told from the perspective of a tree. It tells what the tree does, what it sees, what it has withstood... A page into the story, and I'm just awe struck. I'm staring at this picture, this beautiful picture of forest. There is a river, small waterfalls in the distance, moss covered rocks, vines, salmon jumping, birds hunting... just, wow. I am instantly reminded of stories that I love... The Lorax, The Giving Tree... I listen to the story of the tree... what it has been through. I see it's life, and the lives of the forest that it has sheltered... My eyes are wet. I feel my heart beating. As I turn these pages, I feel so connected and moved by the emotion expressed so genuinely... so honestly.

After reading the book, I find my husband, and I read it to him. After doing so, we sit quietly. I hold the book tightly. He says to me, "You want to buy that book?" Still clinging to the book in my lap, like a child might, I look at him and nod. He smiles at me and says, "Okay, go get it." I will be reviewing this book on my blog, and I will be promoting it to anyone who will listen. What a wonderful book. So brilliantly told. I would like the congratulate the entire team- anyone and everyone who helped with the creation of this book. Well done. Your efforts paid off, you created a marvelous story that will surely be treasured by many. My only regret- not reading this sooner. I saw that this book was the third print edition, and it has been out since 2006. We are in 2017, how great it would have been to know about this gem sooner!

[Conrad Wesselhoeft]

Deep in the forest lives an 800-year-old Douglas Fir tree. This wise grandfather has watched the glaciers melt, seen the salmon return, and felt the claws of the grizzly. Now it hears the caustic rumble of the bulldozer and wonders about its fate—and that of the whole forest.

Author-musician Dana Lyons recounts that while camping beneath a giant Douglas Fir in the Olympic Rain Forest "The Tree" came to him "fully formed" as a song. He and artist David Danioth have transformed that song into this eloquent picture book about the cycle of nature.

"The Tree" is a joy to read and sing. I've had the pleasure of performing it as part of the Fauntleroy Virtual Choir in West Seattle. Here's a link. Dana Lyons begins the tune.

https://vimeo.com/428890823?fbclid=Iw...

[Auna]

Beautifully illustrated book. This is definitely a book for nature lovers, and maybe a good one to introduce on Earth Day.

[Emily Tayler]

This story is from the point of view of an old tree in the Pacific Rainforest. It shows the beauty as well as the terrors of what goes on in the rainforest. It shows how all of the things within the rainforest are connected and how they interact.

The illustrations in this book are phenomenal and that is very important for this book. The text is very simple and the illustrations really tell the story. They are very detailed and unique and really help move the story along.

I would give this book 5 stars. It would be very easy for younger students to understand. Additionally, it would help them to understand the connectedness of the rainforest while no one is there. It gives insight to things like deforestation and how tragic it would be for the rainforests and overall gives them more opportunities to learn deeper about the rainforest.

[Kristen Thompson]

This book would be great for teaching about the rainforest and about helping preserve nature. In our society, we are polluting and cutting down a large majority of the nature around us. It will be especially important to stress the idea of helping preserve this and brainstorming ideas of how we can help to our students in the time they will be living in. It shows how trees have stories just like us. They actually have a lot more stories than we, as humans, do since they generally live a lot longer. To cut one down or pollute the area is cruel. The illustrations in the story are very realistic but still cartoony. I think children could really connect with this book.

[Monica Ver Meer]

This story is written from the perspective of the tree on it's day to day happenings. It has joyful days, fearful days, and sad days. I would love to use this book in my room for teaching perspective and to show my writers that they can tell the story of any object.

[Julie]

Beautiful illustrations and story

[Tara]

Very nice, calm and rhyming. I wonder about the children chaining themselves to the tree, but overall, I liked it.

[Iroquois]

love the artwork! and it's a great book for kids, especially if u want a book that teaches respect for the environment,life and biodiversity. would make a great "green" book/gift for kids.

[Sara Jones]

A few of the page layouts really captured me. It kind of went downhill after that.

[Sarah]

Great story to encourage kids to care about humans' effects on the environment. A simple poem weaves this short book together but it is the wonderful illustrations that shine.

[Jobiska (Cindy)]

Beautiful illustrations supplement the text that was originally a song by Dana Lyons. Owned by my sister the children's librarian, so I don't need a copy.

[Sarah]

Gorgeous illustrations support a poem about what a giant old tree has observed in the natural world. Heavy-handed message (save trees!) but may appeal to children.

[Kelly]

The images in this book are beautiful! Not much to the book, but can lead do meaningful discussion.

[Esodhiambo]

Perspective
Tree
Redwood

Simple text
Primary grades
What would you do if you saw a giant tree?

[Rani]

The song gifted by a Douglas Fir tree to the author!

[Mollie B]

Simple and perfect for storytime. Toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy this story.