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Books are one of the best ways to escape to new lands, to learn new things and to explore places you have never been. But what if the pages of your book could tell you about their own origin stories?
The paper pages of a book which takes you to another world lived a whole life before they landed in your hands, on your bookshelf, and in our libraries. To honour the lives of the pages — and the trees from which they came — we want to share some of our favourite tree stories.
With the help of the Manticore Book Store in downtown Orillia (see address and link below), we have been able to create a list of 27 tree-themed books for adults and children. We hope that, over the rest of the summer and early fall, you and your family head over to Manticore or visit the Orillia Library to pick up some of these amazing books about trees. There is sure to be something for everyone!
Not sure what to pick? These are our recommended top five reads for adults and top three reads for kids, all available at Manticore.
Adults
The Heartbeat of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
Written by Peter Wohlleben, a renowned German forester, the book explores how to see, feel, smell, hear and even states the forest. The Heartbeat of Trees explores the deep connections between humans and the natural world. A great read for anyone wanting to understand more about the forest and why you always itch to be surrounded by the trees!
Around the World in 80 Trees by Jonathan Drori
Jonathan Drori an environmentalist and BBC documentarian. In his book he explores 80 trees from all over the globe, and explains how these trees play an incredible role in every part of human life. Along with beautiful stories, there are awe-inspiring illustrations which are incredibly informative.
The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
Another amazing book by Peter Wohlleben explores the hidden lives of trees. He demonstrates the scientific proof that suggests that trees, like humans, have families—that work to care for one another throughout their lives.
The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth Madness and Greed by John Vaillant
The Golden Spruce tells the gut-wrenching story of Grant Hadwin from British Columbia and his act of violence on a 300-year-old Sitka spruce tree. When you read The Golden Spruce, you will find out why he took his chainsaw into one of North America’s oldest and grandest forests.
To Speak for the Trees: My Life’s Journey from Ancient Celtic Wisdom to Healing Vision of the Forest by Diana Beresford-Kroeger
Diana Beresford-Kroeger is a Canadian botanist and biochemist. In her book you will discover all the twists and turns of her life and how they were marked by trees. You will learn why trees matter—and why trees are critical in the efforts to combat climate change.
Kids
Peep inside a Tree by Anna Milbourne
A great interactive story for kids! They will learn about all the different creatures that engage with trees! Perfect for your little ones to explore what they can’t see in their local trees.
The Magic and Mystery of Trees by Jen Green
This book takes children on a captivating adventure to learn how trees communicate—sharing their nurture networks, warning against predators, recording the past, and anticipating the future.
Can you Hear the Trees Talking? By Peter Wohlleben
Based on The Hidden Life of Trees, Can you hear the trees talking? explores the mysteries and magic of forests at a level which kids will get. Included in this book is a fun-facts list, photographs, and outdoor activities to help engage your kids in your local forests.
For the full list, go to https://manticorebooks.ca/?q=h.tviewer&e_def_id=GBtiVGtcuoA
While many cultures throughout the world, including our own indigenous peoples in Canada, have long valued their relationship with trees and all other living things, European, American and Canadian cultures are in the process of re-learning this relationship—this time led by scientific inquiry which is revealing the wisdom of what our indigenous peoples have known all along.
So pick up a book or two today. Together with your children, read and learn about our generous neighbours—the trees around us.
Manticore Books is located in downtown Orillia at 103 Mississaga St. E. For more information, call 705-326-7776 or email: [email protected]
