They are gnarled and scarred and twisted by harsh wind, weather, fire and disease. They live above 9,000 feet where there is little other vegetation. They are the oldest living trees on the planet. Yet they survive. All of this is interesting or unusual, even amazing but, according to award-winning author Alexandra Siy, but none of these are its secrets. One tree, named Methuselah, is almost 5,000 years old. Its location is a secret for its own protection. There are many visitors to the national park in California's White Mountains who are fascinated by these toughest of all living things. But the location of Methuselah is not its secret. By the time you reach page 8 of this picture book for kids 5-9 and up, the dramatic, dance-like illustrations by Marlo Garnsworthy and Siy's enticing prose has the reader hooked. What are the secrets of the Bristlecones?
Although the Bristlecones show their age, they are pulsing with life.
"Branches flexing, needles sunning, sugar surging, sap flowing, roots soaking--
the ancient bristlecone pine grows, ring by ring."
And it is these rings, which form every year, that contain the secrets of the Bristlecones, -- nothing less than the history of Earth's climate. Pretty timely, no? Scientists remove core samples of the tree trunks to "read" this story that goes back through the millennia, recording events such as a lightning strike in 1122 or volcanic eruptions in 2036 BC. The backmatter of the book includes more details of survival and links to websites for those who want to know more.
Siy and Garnsworthy have created a picture book for all ages that is creative nonfiction at its best. It spotlights STEAM, including an "A" for "art" plus science that shows us HOW we know while infusing a desire to WANT to know. It innovatively includes suspense, romance, and wonder in a tale of these battle-scarred heroes of the plant kingdom.
Here is the link to the Bristlecone page on Alexandra Siy's website. Publication is June 19, 2022.
Although the Bristlecones show their age, they are pulsing with life.
"Branches flexing, needles sunning, sugar surging, sap flowing, roots soaking--
the ancient bristlecone pine grows, ring by ring."
And it is these rings, which form every year, that contain the secrets of the Bristlecones, -- nothing less than the history of Earth's climate. Pretty timely, no? Scientists remove core samples of the tree trunks to "read" this story that goes back through the millennia, recording events such as a lightning strike in 1122 or volcanic eruptions in 2036 BC. The backmatter of the book includes more details of survival and links to websites for those who want to know more.
Siy and Garnsworthy have created a picture book for all ages that is creative nonfiction at its best. It spotlights STEAM, including an "A" for "art" plus science that shows us HOW we know while infusing a desire to WANT to know. It innovatively includes suspense, romance, and wonder in a tale of these battle-scarred heroes of the plant kingdom.
Here is the link to the Bristlecone page on Alexandra Siy's website. Publication is June 19, 2022.
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