From #1 New York Times bestselling creator and Caldecott Medalist of The Invention of Hugo Cabret comes a trailblazing adventure--filled with heart, heroism and hope--about siblings, growing up, finding home, and saving the world. Big Tree is Selznick's most imaginative and ambitious work to date!
Hello, stars. I thought I heard you calling me. A mysterious voice has been calling to Louise in her dreams. She and her brother Merwin are Sycamore seeds, searching for a safe place to grow. As they sail into the unknown, far from their Mama Tree, they must use their wits and imaginations to navigate a dangerous world--filled with monsters, meteors, and volcanoes!--and the fear of never finding the right conditions to set down roots and become big trees. Meanwhile, the mysterious voice grows louder until Louise realizes what it means: The fate of all life on Earth just might depend on the bravery of these two little seeds.
In the spirit of such bestselling classics as The Little Prince, Alice in Wonderland, and The Wizard of Oz, with an originality all his own, Selznick creates a vivid world shown from the plants' point of view and rooted entirely in science. A cast of unforgettable characters--from Mushroom Ambassadors and underwater Scientists to a wise Ghost Leaf and the mad King Seaweed--take readers on a funny, fast-paced, and mesmerizing journey from the Big Bang to the present day.
Big Tree is like nothing we've seen before--a tour de force from an ingenious creator at the top of his creative form!
Afterword. Selected bibliography. Black-and-white illustrations created with pencil.
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School Library Journal
Gr 2-8-Selznick returns with a majestically illustrated, modern-day parable. Sycamore seeds Louise and Merwin are suddenly separated from their mama tree due to a conflagration. They are thrust into a dangerous world of dinosaurs and volcanoes, hoping to set down roots somewhere safe. Throughout their treacherous journey, the stars speak to Louise, hinting at a possible life-changing event on the horizon. Along the way, they meet The Ambassadors (mycorrhizal fungi), Spot (a butterfly), King Seaweed, and The Scientists (Foraminifera). Originally meant for a Spielberg-produced animated film, this tale, with its combination of a childlike narrative and profound illustrations, presents a big, universal story of taking care of the miraculous Earth on which we live. Selznick's signature art was created with pencil on hot pressed watercolor paper, and the texture and nuance of these nearly 300 pages will strike wonder in every reader. In the back matter, Selznick explains the science behind the story, including dinosaurs, asteroids, and the beginning of life on Earth. It also features a selected bibliography and a poem by W.S. Merwin, the seed's namesake. Weighty themes of connectedness, conservation, and the impact that one small voice can have on the fate of the universe might feel unfathomable and too big for children, but in Selznick's hands, this poignant fable will resonate with all readers, young and old. VERDICT A special, one-of-a-kind book for the whole family that readers won't soon forget-Shelley M. Diaz?(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.