Short chapters, each a few pages long, explore deciduous, coniferous, and tropical forests as well as the animals that live in them and how they change during each season. As might be expected from a book published in England, the first subject and main focus is deciduous forests and the creatures identified there are English or European. Dorion explores the composition and life cycle of the trees native to each area and the life they support, from creatures that live in the trees themselves to the growth they shade and shelter once fallen on the forest floor.
Each spread is packed with artwork, small chunks of text, and a scattering of labels for specific species, both flora and fauna. At the end of each forest section there is a spread of trees to identify, with a leave pictured next to the thumbnail portrait of each tree. The last few pages of the book talk about the many symbiotic relationships in the forest, in general terms of how forests benefit the planet, and give instructions for planting a tree. There is a spread of forest animals to search for in the book, a glossary, and a few links to forest conservation websites.
To me, the real attraction of this book is the colorful and exuberant artwork, displaying the green and growing forest and its many inhabitants to the greatest advantage. This isn't a reference work or something that should be used to demonstrate research projects; it's an overview and introduction and a book to be enjoyed for its aesthetic properties.
Verdict: If you're looking for more books about biomes, forests, or plants for your younger elementary students, this is a great addition to that collection.
ISBN: 9781547604579; Published November 2020 by Bloomsbury; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for the library
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