The Forest in the Trees

Title: The Forest in the Trees
Author/Illustrator: Connie McLennan
Publisher: Arbordale Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-64351-3508

“Deep in the woods near a foggy sea, there’s a hidden forest in the trees,” begins Connie McLennan’s children’s book, The Forest in the Trees.

~ What ~
This oversized thirty-two-unnumbered-page hardbound with a duplicated jacket cover targets children ages seven to ten years old who enjoy an informative story about forests. With no scary scenes, it may be best read out loud to beginner readers due to some complicated wording. Expressive, colorful illustrations grace both sides of the pages.

In this short rhyming tale that mimics The House that Jack Built in format, the building sentence-upon-sentence story on the left sides of the pages is about a redwood forest with its tall trees, new growth, rich soil, interesting bugs, crawling creatures, abundant ferns, berry bushes, lacey lichen, flying squirrels, spotted owls, leafy laurel, and diving auk. The right sides of the pages include geographical, physical, scientific, and animal/plant facts.

The last four pages have more educational tools of learning activities for creative minds that involve information about the coastal redwoods, a forest vocabulary matching game, animals of the forest and their basic needs, and how new trees are made.

~ Why ~
Since I live in the Pacific Northwest and love trees, this is an ideal book geared for children that teaches about the magnificent redwood trees and how their eco-system protects thriving insects, animals, and plants. The rhyme is cute while the sidebars of interesting facts are educational. I like the attention given to the highlighted words such as reiterations, canopy, humus, crustaceans, epiphytes, fern mats, and lichens. The drawings are detailed and eye-catching.

~ Why Not
Those who do not like an educational read about forest and trees may show no interest in this book. Beginner readers may have issues with some of the two- and three-syllable words. Others may wish there were more puzzles or games included.

~ Wish ~
I wish more books like this were available that had a story yet provided knowledge and information that a young child could learn in a fun, engaging way.

~ Want ~
If you are looking for a book about redwoods for elementary-aged children, this will delight many as they realize how abundant life is in a forest.

Thanks to Arbordale Publishing, Bookpleasures, and the author for this complimentary book that I am under no obligation to review.

#ArbordalePublishing #ConnieMcLennan #CoastalRedwoods #educationalchildren’sbook

This book can be purchased at https://amzn.to/2O4mkJl