Once There Was a Tree

Rating:
Summary: A Russian tale about a very interesting stump in the forest
Review: "Once There Was A Tree" was originally published in the Soviet Union in 1983, and if there are those who wants to see socialist notions of communal property in this charming little story about a stump in the forest and who it belongs to, then there is little to do but pat them on the back and tell them everything will be okay. The story by Natalia Romanova is about an old tree that is split by lightning and then felled by a woodsman so all that remains is a stump. However, the old tree is not really dead, for beetles, ants, birds, a bear and even a man find ways to use the stump as the seasons change. All of them believe the stump belongs to them and them alone. But as Romanova gently reminds us, the stump is part of the earth, and the earth belongs to all. This simple tale is illustrated with extraordinary pictures by Gennady Spirin, which are graced with a softness that belies their realistic depiction of life in the forest around our little stump. His picture of the Woodsman has a quality that I can only describe as being from realistic fairy tale. I find his gnarled old trees marvelously creations and love the detailed craftsmanship evidenced by all the golden and silvery leaves adorning the living trees of Spirin's forest in some of these paintings. "Once There Was A Tree" is one of those children's books where the illustrations are so compelling you almost forget there is a story being told and a lesson to be learned. As long as children do not mind the creeping crawling things that like to nest in and around the stub of a tree they will find this little look at nature to be compelling. However, I bet it is parents and teachers who are going to like this book more because of Spirin's exquisite illustrations.

Rating:
Summary: not just any old stump
Review: This book was read read to me throughout my childhood, so i am saddened to see such a short synopsis. Granted that is the essence of the story, but what is most important about it, is the sense of interconnectedness in nature that Nathalia illustrates. Many different organisms live in a less glamorous way and often go underappreciated in environmental texts. It's about time that bugs and worms had their say, too. I thoroughly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Once There Was a Tree
Review: What a beautiful, rich book! I can't believe I've never seen this book before a friend passed it along. Besides magnetizing illustrations, the whole story concept of the cycle of life is sensitive and calming. I as an adult find myself reading and pouring over it again and again. My 4 year old liked it at age 4 and now loves it more than ever. I also like that it was originally written and published in the "Soviet Union" so the perspective is a little different than the usual American fare.

Rating:
Summary: Once There Was a Tree
Review: What a beautiful, rich book! I can't believe I've never seen this book before a friend passed it along. Besides magnetizing illustrations, the whole story concept of the cycle of life is sensitive and calming. I as an adult find myself reading and pouring over it again and again. My 4 year old liked it at age 4 and now loves it more than ever. I also like that it was originally written and published in the "Soviet Union" so the perspective is a little different than the usual American fare.