Treemendous: Diary of a Not Yet Mighty Oak by Bridget Heos, Mike Ciccotello
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on March 9, 2021
ISBN: 9780525579366
Pages: 40
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads

The CIP lists this as fiction, but I think I will put it in the nonfiction section of the library. Told in the diary entries of an acorn, this picture book follows a young acorn and its long life as an oak tree (yes, the acorn and tree have smiling faces and talk so I can see why it was considered fiction). But the text conveys basic simple science with clearly depicted root systems and labeled diagrams along with wry humor that is just right for new nonfiction readers. I recommend its use for teachers and parents of preschool and early elementary children when learning about plants in general and especially trees. I had no idea that oak trees didn’t start producing flowers and hence acorns until they were 20 years old. “Oh, my heartwood!”

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library