This Old Madrone Tree

“This gorgeous picture book featuring the Pacific Madrone tree is not to be missed! Told lyrically, this book takes readers through the natural territories and seasons alongside the powerful and elegant madrone tree. Throughout rain, snow, flora, fauna and the ever-changing world, the madrone is there, watching. Interacting with the fungi in her roots, providing shade for animals, watching waterfowl migrate-she is there. This book is an absolute must for elementary classrooms and libraries. The poetic prose draws readers in immediately to the madrone’s world, while providing nonfiction information. The watercolor artwork is visually stunning and pairs perfectly with the text. Additionally, the book has identifying field guides on the front and back covers, which readers will love using to find plants and animals in the book itself. There are additional resources available from the publisher. An about madrone trees and a map discussing locations of trees throughout the west can be found in the back of the book. Downloadable activities can be found on the publisher’s website to further students’ learning. This book will delight readers and is a wonderful read for younger to mid-elementary children.”—Children’s Literature

“The madrone tree, a strong centerpiece of the Pacific Northwest ecosystem, receives admiration and inspires wonder in Barbara Herkert’s This Old Madrone Tree. As readers follow a lone madrone tree through the various seasons and storms of the Northwest, they also learn about how its bark, berries, and flowers provide food, shelter, and life to other animals and plants in the region. The colorful, fluid, and brightly painted illustrations pair well with the elegant and poetic text, providing readers with a sense of awe, love, and enchantment of this powerful Pacific madrone. Further information on the madrone, including a map of its distribution in the region and an animal identification guide, are also provided as reference material.”—Butler’s Pantry

“This old madrone tree has stood above the ocean for a long, long time.” On an island in the middle of the ocean a madrone tree stands tall and proud. In the summer she welcomes herons, gulls, and eagles. In the fall her branches are ripe with berries for robins, flickers, and crows. In the winter she beckons for the animals to take cover from the wind and rain. In the spring she welcomes geese and other birds as her bark glows in the morning light. Deep in the ground her network of roots welcome fungi. As her branches produce flowers bees and butterflies come to feast. Through the seasons and weather and visitors the mighty madrone stands tall and proud through it all. A beautifully told and illustrated story about the wonder of nature and the cycle of life. (Ages 4-8)”—KidsBookshelf

“Fun, memorable, thoroughly ‘kid friendly’ from first page to last, This Old Madrone Tree will have a special appeal for children with an interest in the relationship of a tree to animals, birds, and other forms of life. This Old Madrone Tree is a singularly impressive, creatively original, and unreservedly recommended addition to family, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children.”—Midwest Book Review

“At the edge of the shore, an old madrone tree stood tall. She gladly received numerous guests and travelers by providing them a safe haven and wonderful fruits. Every season brought new visitors, which she relished. Herons, eagles, hummingbirds, geese, and her everyday resident, the fungus, all enjoyed her company. The book is the author’s ode to the madrone tree, elegantly seizing the essence of their optimism while delicately discussing its sacrifice. The illustrations are whimsical and capture the mood of the plot. This Old Madrone Tree by Barbara Herkert, gorgeously illustrated by Marlo Garnsworthy, can help children understand and cherish the beauty of trees and have a greater appreciation of nature.”—Nothing But Picture Books Reviews

“This Old Madrone Tree (Web of Life Children’s Books, 2023) by Barbara Herkert and illustrated by Marlo Garnsworthy is such a lovely nature book about a specific tree’s annual life cycle. In the Pacific Northwest, madrone (sometimes called madrona) trees grow near the coast. This book tells the story of one such tree and the creatures who visit throughout the year. We visit all four seasons starting with summer and ending with spring. The text is lyrical and the illustrations beautifully compliment it. My favorite part of the text is “In winter, the wind whips and snarls. Waves raise their frothy heads. Rain slashes sideways. Thunder roars, and lightning cackles.” Can’t you just see and hear it? I have a really hard time picking a favorite spread as the illustrations are so lovely. But the forest scene when the bark curls reminds me of family vacations on the northern California coast when I was young. The author has a madrone tree where she lives that inspired this story, her fifth published book. Read more about Barb here and check out her other books here. The illustrator loves nature so was a perfect choice. Read about Marlo here and see samples of her illustrations here. Check out some lovely spreads of this book on the publisher’s site.”–Susan Uhlig Imagine