Tree Whispers

Here's a wonderful collection of poems that celebrate the magnificence of trees. From odes to specific types, to praises for the many services provided by our leafy friends, you'll learn, and perhaps appreciate more deeply how important they are. I'm for anything that encourages children to look up from their screens and observe the world around them.

With charming illustrations by Juliana Oakley.

A poetry book about trees! There is some good information to be gleaned from the poems. And there is also diversity in the cultures represented, both in the poems and the art.

Some of the poems did feel like they would be better suited for a slightly older audience. But, in the end, books of this nature help raise environmental awareness, and that is something everyone can benefit from.

A wonderful book of poems for young kids! This would be perfect for Earth Day. Some of the poems could be acted out by young kids, while older students could have a discussion about taking care of our earth and the trees. While I wouldn’t read it aloud cover to cover, it is great for pulling out poems individually. I love the inclusivity in the illustrations as well.

*3.5
A beautifully illustrated book filled with poems about different kinds of trees and the legacy of nature! The illustrated children were full of diversity and beautiful scenes of appreciating nature. Some pages felt cluttered with too many poems on a single page, but each poem was intentional.

As I read this book, so many ways to use it in the classroom came to mind. Each page is a poem about a different type of tree, what trees provide for us, what’s happening to them, or how they provide memories for us in their lifespan. Connections swirled in my mind looking at the pictures and reading some of the words aloud to myself. This will be added to my classroom collection.

I am absolutely enamored with this glorious little book of big poems about trees! I read it to my 3 year old and she chimed in on many of the stanzas. We will absolutely be purchasing this book and I'll go so far as to say it'll be one we read together again and again under our favorite oak!

A wonderful book of poems for young kids! I downloaded it for my daughter and she loved it! Perfect for kids who adore nature. Highly recommended.

The cover grabbed my attention and I had to read it. I was surprised to see that it was poetry and just fell in love. I read by season and this had such warm, cozy vibes with all of nature. I would love to have this for my daughter's library! And the last two pages took me by surprise with the illustrations. I thought It was a lovely ending.

The poetry was child appropriate, and easy for my toddler to understand. And illustrations took so much thought, with how the people were also mirroring the nature elements around them. Beautiful!!

Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher Spotlight for the ARC!!

This book was so cute and definitely a favorite for our family after reading it. It was such a good story with beautiful artwork. We really enjoyed reading this one with the kids and as did they. We will definitely be adding this to our library.

This book is full of poems, all about trees. Some were factual, some were just for entertainment. Overall, it was a good book. Who knew there was so much to say about trees?!

Beautiful, playful, and joyous poems take young (and older) readers on a wondrous journey of imagination into the natural world within these pages. And I loved the artwork in each one – vibrant, creative, and lending to curiosity and more creativity for its readers. Each one is a beautiful blend of whimsy and science, of the natural world and of play, of the wonders around us and within!

Source: Netgalley

A book of poems about trees; some about trees in general, some about specific kinds of trees. Some of the poems were rhymed, some were free verse, which I think weakened the book a bit; I feel like it would have been more effective to have either all rhyming poems or all free verse, but I can understand the choice to include both - having a mix appeals to more age groups and avoids making the text too sing-song. My library might get this book, but it remains to be seen. The pictures were lovely though!

Thank you to Publisher's Spotlight, Child's Play, and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this book. The illustrations are beautiful, but what I loved even more was the variety of trees discussed. There is so much to learn about tress and why they are so important. Their history, their lifespans, how they are different from other types of trees, etc. The verses and poems are just wonderful. This would be a great addition to any classroom or library.

Some books teach, others inspire; Mandy Ross’s latest work does both. Featuring over thirty verses, Tree Whispers honors seeds and trees while praising their contributions to their communities. Thanks in no small part to Juliana Oakley’s thoughtful illustrations, each page is a celebration of diversity explored through abilities, ethnicities, and an array of biomes. While Oakley captivates even the youngest page-turner, Ross’s poetry propels the senses, hearts, and minds of readers of any age.

Though perfectly at home on any bookshelf, Tree Whispers is an exceptional source for students! With a mix of both free and rhyming schemes, the narrative presents a brilliant introduction to poetry for elementary scholars, as a read-aloud on Arbor or Earth Day, and enjoyed as supplementary reading when studying the lifecycle of a seed. This book has already become a staple in our classroom and will stay for many years.

Thank you to NetGalley, Publisher's Spotlight, and Child's Play for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Stunning illustrations bring these poems to life! Perfect for elementary students, these poems are varied and engaging. This would be great for a poetry study, descriptive word study, sound study, or just for enjoyment! The author covers many topics related to trees as well as tons of species from around the globe. Very comprehensive.

A beautiful look into the world of trees through many seasons and across many places.
Comprised of easy to read poems about the language, nature, and beauty of trees this is a good selection for any child with a pioneer/questioning spirit or even as a tool in an elementary classroom.

Tree Whispers: A Forest of Poems is a sensory-laden ode to trees and their place in our lives, as well as the lives of animals and Earth itself. Via rhyme and free verse, each poem rolls off the tongue, making it fun to read and read aloud. Illustrator Juliana Oakley’s lively, colorful illustrations invite the reader in throughout the seasons, in urban and suburban settings and from interesting points of view. This is a delightful picture book!

I absolutely adored this book! Told through the perspective of trees through forms of poetry, it was captivating and unique - teaching the reader about different trees and habitats while also exposing them to lots of literary elements! Illustrations were beautiful. 5 stars from me!! Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC of this title!

Beautiful poetry for children to understand about trees. I love trees so much, only if they don't fall on your house during a storm.. Trees are a beautiful thing. They help us do a lot of things. This book is a great way to make kids understand what's going on as a tree and other things. A must read and good for homeschooling too.

I received a free copy of the book and is voluntarily writing a review

Tree Whispers is a wonderfully illustrated book filled with poems about trees!

I really liked the illustrations they were colorful and engaging. The poems we're fun. I think this would be a great book for an elementary school kids. I like how it shows different seasons and both rural and urban trees.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher Spotlight for the e-ARC.

The picture book Tree Whispers: A Forest of Poems by Mandy Ross and illustrated by Juliana Oakley (Child’s Play May 2023) collects brief poems about trees which encourage children to get outside to enjoy nature. Most of the poems are conversational, and some don’t read like poems to me at all. The deceptively simple child-like illustrations were bright and gave personality to the friendly trees and diverse people illustrated enjoying nature.

The friendly tone on each page invites a young child to be a part of nature. For example, one page encourages a child to act like a tree and another page encourages examination of the insects under a tree and/or in a forest. Forest conservation is also mentioned toward the end of the book. One of my favorite pages was “Trees Breathe,” which focuses on explaining the concept of photosynthesis without saying that word. Another favorite of mine was “Count My Rings,” which explains how the tree’s inside rings tell the years of growth, with a reminder that cutting a tree to count the rings then stops that growth.

Overall, Tree Whispers feels a little bit immature for many elementary aged children, but selections from the book may help supplement learning about trees, and the colorful illustrations will capture a listener’s interest.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance review copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I liked Tree Whispers. I certainly those this book would be closer to a K-3rd grade level versus a 3rd-12th grade level. It's great for learning about all sorts of trees. You can break the poetry selections out and read those without much context so it's not necessary to read the book in one sitting.

Tree Whispers is a fun and interesting book! I can imagine reading it for an outside storytime or before a nature walk in the woods or around the neighborhood. There isn't a story per se, instead the book consists of short passages encouraging children to think more deeply about trees as living beings and incorporates information about specific tree types, outdoor activities, and breathing/ stretching exercises. The illustrations depict many different types of trees in both urban and rural settings. This is a story you could read in one sitting or read different passages one at a time before going for a walk or having a picnic!

#TreeWhispers #NetGalley

This book would be a great addition to Forest School, 1000 hours outside, homeschooling, and more. The way it works for having quiet time outdoors and enjoying what is all around. We have easily added this into our weekends and summers, it's been a big hit in the neighborhood also when I bust it out. The kids range from 5yrs- 9yrs old and seem to really enjoy it.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. A fun poetry picture book with forest poems inside. Geared towards older kids in my opinion.