The Kids Canadian Tree Book

Patricia Morley is professor emerita of English and Canadian studies at
Concordia University, Japan Foundation Fellow 1991-92, and the author of
Margaret Laurence: The Long Journey Home and As Though Life Mattered:
Leo Kennedy’s Story.

Large print, illustrations interspersed throughout the text, and a
friendly narrative voice make this series a good choice for introducing
young children to nature and environmental concepts.

Information in the Tree Book includes how to identify a tree, why
evergreens stay green, what trees grow where in Canada, and what trees
do for people and animals. (The latter is really the book’s theme.)
The section “Dry some fruit snacks” shows readers how to dry apple
slices in a slow oven or by the fire for eating later—a nice touch.
The last section encourages children to grow a tree, and tells them how
to do it.

The illustrations in the Bird Book are more detailed and scientifically
accurate and also more imaginative than in the Tree Book. Layouts are
more impressive and often striking. The text describes how birds care
for their chicks, their nesting habits, methods of winter survival, and
the fine art of birdwatching.

Other books in the Kids Canadian Nature Series focus on bugs and
plants. The series provides an excellent introduction to nature, in both
the city and the country. All of the books include well-organized
indexes and are highly recommended