|
| Full Reviews of The Tree |
| "Deftly written by Dana Lyons, The Tree is beautifully illustrated by David Danioth and is enthusiastically recommended as an engaging, impressive, full color picturebook for beginning readers. This is a truly memorable story about the joy a tree feels giving life, shade, sustenance, and comfort. Yet the threat of human expansion and destruction could destroy the tree, unless humans band together to save it. A brief postscript with facts about the Pacific rainforest rounds out this charming, ecology-minded picturebook tale."
|
|
The Tree is a picture book in rhyme about an 800-year-old Douglas fir in the old growth area of the Pacific Rain Forest in America’s Northwest. The story focuses on all the experiences this tree has had and how sad it would be if anything happened to it. Responsible stewardship of the old growth
areas is really emphasized.
The text is pleasant and informative. The illustrations are fantastic. The artist has even cleverly drawn pictures within pictures if one looks hard enough for them. In all, a typical high quality book by a publishing house known for its high standards. We gave this book a solid four hearts.
|
|
At first glance, this book looks interesting and the first thing that pops into your head s "pretty cover," but as you turn the pages, and read, you are then automatically hooked to the stunning illustrations and the rhyming text. Told through the eyes of an 800-year-old Douglas fir, THE TREE, depicts a life of wonder. Will the tree be here tomorrow? Will the tree be here in the future? For how long? The breath-taking illustrations fit perfectly with the influential words. I was amazed! Mr. Danioth's drawings are so life-like, I could almost feel the night air on my face, then I flipped the page, and I swore I heard lightening crackle in the dark sky. THE TREE is a delightful book that fills you with hope and delivers in the end. After the story, you will find what inspired the book, and detailed information about the tree's home, the Pacific Rain Forest. If that isn't enough, you'll find forewords by Julia Butterfly Hill, and songwriter Pete Seeger that will make you smile. This wonderful book keeps you turning the pages-but not too quickly, as you will want to savior the words and take a mental note of the beautiful illustrations. My children and I loved this book, and I am positive you will, too. The author, Dana Lyons is an accomplished author and musician who lives with his cat Oliver in Bellingham, Washington. The illustrator, David Danioth is an award-winning artist who lives in Washington State with his wife and two children. AStoryWeaver's Book Reviews highly recommends THE TREE by two incredibly talented individuals, Dana Lyons and David Danioth. Stars out of 5: 5
--Reviewed by Jennifer LB Leese @ ASTORYWEAVERs Book Reviews©
|
|
For all our futures, this book is worth reading
Dear Friends,
Last night I was privileged to receive one of the first copies of the new book "The Tree" written by Dana Lyons and illustrated by David Danioth. It has been published by the great people at Illumination Arts in Bellevue. I have read this "childrens" book twice now, and each time it has brought a tear to my eye, and the desire to tell the world about it's existence. It is so beautiful. The story of a 800 year old tree, told by Dana Lyons, and illustrated with magical art by David Danioth, could have the capability of changing the way people view trees and how we treat this earth. A simple story, well told. If you have children, buy this book for them. If you don't have children, buy it for yourself, or someone else's children.
Thank you.
|
|
This book beautifully communicates something many of us appreciate most about living in the Northwest-the importance of trees. The language is lyrical, which shouldn't be surprising since it came to the author, Dana Lyons (of the popular "Cows With Guns" song fame) while camping in the Olympic Rain Forest. He stood at the base of an ancient Douglas Fir tree and the fully formed song came to him. Years later at a Lummi celebration he sang the song "The Tree" for the chief and told him that it felt as if the tree had given him the song. The chief told him that the Lummi tradition believes each tree has its own song and that he recognized the tune of Lyons' song. The art is a lovely compliment to the story of the life of an ancient tree and its fear for the future. The story ends hopefully with the tree happy to be surrounded by and climbed by children. This tale is a great opportunity to talk with children about the importance of preserving the natural beauty of the land and good stewardship. "It's a good book," said our 7-year-old reviewer. She especially like the beautiful art showing nature's beauty. She felt it was appropriate as a bedtime story due to the flowing words and the happy ending. We agree with her that families will enjoy reading the story together.
--Northwest Family Magazine, June 2002
|
|
| Talk From the Trees Who would have thought it possible for mere mortals to experience the world through the eyes of an old growth tree in an ancient forest? In part, singer-songwriter Lyons achieves this difficult feat as the result of having sojourned for some time beneath a Douglas fir in the Pacific Northwest. Although insisting that the tree itself is the true author of this book (which started out as a song), Lyons clearly had a hand in shaping this poignant poem. In perfect step with the author, Danioth's visual interpretations of the lines embrace many aspects of life in and near a forest, and include a variety of animals, further engaging young and old in pondering the importance of the forest to the life of all beings. Using gouache, airbrush, and colored pencil, the illustrator elicits intense reactions to the thoughts of the tree. The words "I have felt the claws of the grizzly" accompany a fierce open-mouthed bear as it might be seen from the vantage of someone high in the tree looking down. "I have seen great glaciers melting, and I've met lightning eye to eye" shows a raven in the foreground, the tree transformed to layers of feathery mauves in the craggy light of a raging storm. On hearing bulldozers, the tree asks "Am I soon to die?" and against a crimson horizon and a disappearing forest, we see animals leaping in terror. A few pages later, the trees are stumps, the earth parched, and the tree asks "...who will take refuge in my shadow, if my shadow falls no more?" From this most dire prospect, author and illustrator lead us to a place of hope: The future of the earth is in the hands of our children. Despite its compelling message, Lyons is never preachy; instead, he grabs the reader in that place of love and compassion for all living things, fostering the understanding that consciousness is all-pervasive and that all of nature deserves our respect.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
