Leaves and Trees

Children's Literature

Trees are often forgotten when people think of plants, but trees are the largest plants in the world. Pascoe offers fascinating facts about how trees grow and protect themselves and the importance of leaves in the life of a tree. Pascoe explains how a leaf gathers moisture and air and stores chlorophyll in the leaf. Included in this description is a color slide of the cross section of a leaf showing its veins and where the chlorophyll is stored. The photographs are colorful and very informative. In addition to providing interesting facts, Pascoe explains how trees grow and how to collect and catalog leaves. She also includes fascinating hands-on experiments that will help children understand more about these botanical giants. Two experiments include what happens when air cannot reach leaf surfaces and how trees use sunlight to grow. A glossary, additional sources and an index are included. 2001, Blackbirch Press, $18.95. Ages 7 to 12. Reviewer: Danielle Williams