I adored this book. I initially bought it as a father’s day gift because the illustrations were so beautiful (and it looked up my Dad’s alley) but once he was done I stole it to read for myself. It IS beautifully illustrated and also quirky and interesting. I read it slowly over months so that I could absorb more info (4 trees a day), and together with my morning coffee it became this lovely morning ritual.
The book is divided into continents and has plucked a motley collection of trees from each to dive into. There were a number that I was semi- familiar with prior to reading (ie: olive, quaking aspen, giant sequoias, lodgepole pine), an additional number that I knew existed but had never really thought about before (hemlock, cypress, jacaranda) and a whole bunch more that I didn’t know even existed (Chinese laquer tree, chicle).
And oh the names of some of these new trees! The Chinese laquer tree! The whistling thorn! The Dragonsblood! The amazing ways they’ve evolved, the things they can do, how beautiful and different they all are! I became a real fount of knowledge/annoyance to my friends on long hiking trips, where very few of the trees were the trees in the book but just seeing all the trees reminded me of the book.
I loved all the details about how these trees are intertwined with the other plants and animals, including people, as well as history and cultures. These trees have surrounded and supported us and enabled us to become who we are (or reflect what we are)- they become canoes or clothing or medicine, they give us frankincense or maple syrup or chewing gum, they build our furniture or hold up our cities (looking at you Venice, and your reliance on the magical alder tree that won’t rot as long as it stays submerged), or just improve our mood with their profusion of beautiful flowers (jacaranda).
I’m not sure how Drori chose the trees he did- there are so many trees out there, and I’m looking forward to a volume two! This would make a beautiful Christmas present for those hard to buy for people.