Outside and Inside Trees

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4-- Readers will find themselves looking at trees with new eyes after reading this book. A continous narrative, unbroken by either table of contents or chapter divisions, points out why the parts of the tree shown in the full-color photographs look the way they do. Inner structures, photosynthesis, the role of water, classification, and reproduction are among the topics covered. The scientifically precise vocabulary is explained in a glossary that also serves as an index. The photos often take up more of the page than the text; some are enlarged 2,000 times. Readers see cross sections of a pine needle, a root tip, and an oak leaf, as well as half a dozen pictures of wonderfully textured bark. There is also a beautiful shot of redwoods in mist. An excellent visual guide, this book will be useful for projects and offers a smorgasbord of facts for both researchers and browsers. --Sharon Levin, University of Vermont, Burlington

Leone McDermott

This is a good basic introduction to the anatomy and physiology of trees. The clear, conversational text describes the structure and function of bark, trunk, roots, leaves, seeds, and pollen. Microscopic structures, such as leaf stomata and seed embryos, are also described. The author is particularly adept at supplying easily understandable images to explain subtle physiological processes. For example, she likens the force drawing water droplets up a tree trunk to a tug on a chain of people holding hands. Another strength is the book's quantity of attractive color photographs, many of them magnified and color-enhanced close-ups of microscopic structures. Unfortunately, labels and captions are insufficiently clear in several places. Students will appreciate the pronunciation guide and good, three-page glossary. In all, this is a solid and appealing introduction to how a tree lives and grows.