Maxine's Tree

Jean Free, a library consultant, was an elementary-school teacher and
librarian in Whitby, Ontario.

Five-year-old Maxine and her family go on a camping trip to the Carmanah
Valley in the Pacific Rim Park on Vancouver Island, where her father
helps build hiking trails through the rainforest. Maxine loves a huge
sitka spruce tree, so large that 10 children could sit inside the base.
When the family sees clear-cut forestry practices nearby, Maxine decides
to name the tree after herself, putting a driftwood sign on it for
protection. Her father, grandmother, and cousin also put their names on
trees, and other campers later do the same.

This is a gorgeous, lovingly illustrated picture book; Churcher’s
illustrations show her feelings for the stunningly beautiful Canadian
rainforest. Léger-Haskell and her husband, like Maxine’s father, have
been involved in building trails to make the public more aware of these
majestic trees, which are such an important part of our heritage.

Maxine’s Tree will increase awareness of both young and old to
various environmental topics. It’s also a thoughtful book for
preschool children learning to appreciate nature.