Stretch to the Sun - by Carrie A Pearson (Hardcover)

About the Book

The tallest known tree on earth is located in Redwood National Park in northern California. More than 1,200 years old, it is approximately 380 feet tall--and still climbing! Discovered in 2006, the tree's location is kept secret to protect it. Full color.x 11.

Book Synopsis

"Visually appealing and ­enjoyable to read aloud, this book is a ­versatile introduction to redwood trees and forest conservation."
--School Library Journal

Step into the magical, but true, world of a coast redwood forest -- one of nature's most diverse environments. Experience the life of one tiny tree as it survives despite all odds and grows generation by generation into the tallest tree on earth today.

A recipient of a silver Eureka! Award from the California Reading Association for outstanding nonfiction.

A children's book about how a once tiny seedling, deep in the forest of Redwood National Park, that was protected by the animals and plants that surrounded it, stretched toward the sun to become the tallest known tree on earth. It survived ecological and human threats and flourished for over 1200 years. Logging in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries depleted the coastal redwood population significantly. But the creation of northern California's Redwood National Park in 1968 helped to save some of the ancient trees, like this one. The tree was discovered by tall tree scientists in 2006, but in the hopes to keep the tree safe, its exact location is kept secret.

Susan Swan's eye-catching illustrations are made of found objects and hand-painted papers bringing a natural depth and texture to the story.

Peppered with impressive facts about trees and extensive backmatter, Pearson proves that every tree has a story to tell.

Review Quotes

Readers follow the progress of a tiny sprout as it grows to be one of the tallest redwood trees ever discovered. Lyrical and gentle text, with a bit of understated repetition, sets the scene; this work begs to be read aloud. Swan's collage-style artwork is appropriately dominated by a gorgeous spectrum of greens and browns. Many small animals and other details are hiding in the illustrations for children to discover. The story is experienced almost entirely from the tree's perspective, and the tree is not concerned with human names or dates (the more fact-centric text is reserved for the "Facts About Coast Redwoods" back matter, a helpful guide for young kids and adults alike). In the only narrative leap away from the tree, "the president of the United States...signs a law protecting ­ancient trees." In the back matter, ­sentences from the main story are revisited and ­explained. Here kids learn about the Gold Rush, the Save the Redwoods League, frenzied logging activity, the creation of Redwood National Park, and its expansion signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978. ­VERDICT Visually appealing and ­enjoyable to read aloud, this book is a ­versatile introduction to redwood trees and forest conservation.
--School Library Journal

About the Author

Carrie Pearson is a former early elementary teacher and the author of A Warm Winter Tail and A Cool Summer Tail. She hikes, bikes, runs, skis, windsurfs, kayaks, and swims--and writes about what she experiences. Carrie lives in Marquette, Michigan, with her husband and their three daughters.

Susan Swan holds an MFA from Florida State University. She works primarily in digital cut-paper collage, and when not creating pictures, she makes jewelry. She illustrated Out on the Prairie by Donna M. Bateman and Volcano Rising by Elizabeth Rusch. She lives in Ovilla, Texas with her husband. www.susanswan.com