One Day This Tree Will Fall by Leslie Barnard Booth (review)

Reviewed by: One Day This Tree Will Fall by Leslie Barnard Booth Kate Quealy-Gainer, Editor Booth, Leslie Barnard One Day This Tree Will Fall; illus. by Stephanie Fizer Coleman. McElderry, 2024 40p Trade ed. ISBN 9781534496965 18. 99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781534496972 10. 99 Reviewed from digital galleys R 4-9 yrs A scraggly, twisted fir tree stands bare and broken in the middle of a forest, seemingly on the verge of toppling over, and when it does, "this story will end. Won't it? " Perhaps not, our unseen narrator posits: after all, look at what the tree has survived so far. As a seed, it could have easily been gobbled up by forest denizens or drowned in the river. Instead, it found soil and grew and grew, through wind, ice, and drought, and even fire; it was lucky enough to avoid the fate of the surrounding trees, cut down by humans, and continued to survive, though changed and scarred. And when it finally does fall, it will still provide for fungi, burrowing animals, bugs—and eventually it will help grow another seed. This is a reverent portrayal of growth and regrowth, staying firmly in the painful realities of the life cycle (of tree or otherwise) but hemming toward optimism, nonetheless. Death begets life here, as an author's note acknowledges that "Damage leads to more damage" but also "to expanded opportunities for wildlife. " The text's overall structure guides readers through the tree's journey, and the details are vivid but not overwhelming, highlighting the tree's changing physical structure and its changing role. The mixed media art is wonderfully textured, with scribbles of mossy green dotting the tree's bark and swoops and swirls of orange and reds. Changes in perspective expertly convey the majesty of the landscape and the intricacy of all the creatures amid the branches and roots, reinforcing the tree's existence as a nurturing home "of silken death traps / and venomous fangs, / of bright, begging mouths / and fluttering wings. " An author's note, glossary, and list of selected sources are included. Copyright © 2024 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois