When was the last time you noticed the trees?
Like really noticed them. And considered what kind of tree. Or how long it had been there. Or how it got there. Or the many ways it could be used.
I spent hours over the weekend riding around the farm with my dad. Minus the stand off and rundown I got in with a bull (that’s a story for another time), I really enjoyed our cruise exploring every corner, checking on cows, and even talking about trees.
Yes, a big chunk of our conversation was chatting about trees. We looked for buck rubs, found a chiseled stump along the river after a beaver cut down a tree (it actually looked exactly like the illustration from my book Little Tree in a Big Forest), and he showed me where trees had been twisted and toppled in past storms. Of course, the limbs are bare this time of year but my dad has such a great eye for identifying the species based on bark. We talked about the age of the red and white oaks and what they would be used for once they reach peak maturity for harvesting. He showed me what can be cleared out to let the pines grow best as possible. And he showed me the pile of fun the squirrels left under a hickory tree.
It made me wonder, how often other people have conversations about our native trees?
When was the last time you paused to notice the trees or forest products around you? It’s a great way to start a conversation with kids about our natural resources, where things come from, and the jobs it takes to build them. It can start with something as simple as noticing how their leaves are different.
That’s at the heart of my book Little Tree in a Big Forest. It’s a sweet story with incredible illustrations but it also opens the door to so many learning opportunities. I made a FREE lesson plan packed with coloring sheets and activities to help start the conversation. Now is a great time to share them because it's #readacrossamerica week. Enjoy!
PS. Books are made from trees.
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