The summer sun sifts through the leaves, pooling shade on the ground like a length of watered silk. A decade or two ago, this setting would have been irresistible to practically any child. It would beckon with the promise of a treehouse, a tire swing, an imaginary pirate ship or just a cool, shady place for a summer's dreams.

For whatever reason, be it overscheduling, computers or television, many children never learn about that magic coursing beneath the bark of a tree. And now, more than ever, it's important to give children an appreciation of not only trees themselves, but of their numerous and vital roles in both the environment and society.

So pick up a few of these books and find a rustling pool of shade and share one of nature's finest sculptures with your children.

1. "A Grand Old Tree" by Mary Newell DePalma.
Fact-based fiction
Baby-preschool
The simple text of this book follows the life cycle of a tree, from sapling back to the soil that the grand old tree's grandchildren sprout in. The illustrations are colorful and uncluttered. It is written simply and briefly enough to hold the attention of small children, but contains enough information to keep the interest of older children as well.
DISCUSS: Seasons and the life cycle, how the tree makes it possible for new trees to grow.

2. "Our Tree Named Steve" by Alan Zweibel, illustrated by David Catrow.
Fiction
Ages 4-8
This endearing recollection of a family's relationship with a tree is written in the form of a letter from a father to his children. The author and illustrator both mix humor with nostalgia in a bittersweet tribute to a tree. The ending is surprising and heartwarming.
DISCUSS: What role trees have played in your life and how you would feel if they weren't there.

3. "The Crooked Apple Tree" by Eric Houghton, illustrated by Caroline Gold.
Fiction
Ages 4-8
"What good's a tree?" Disgusted that their new house has neither a pond nor a cave, the two children in this book are unimpressed by the apple tree in their backyard. Their parents are more discerning, and Dad wisely takes a few pictures through the year as the children learn that there's more to the tree than bark. The blossoms become a snowstorm for a dogsled exploration, an enchanted tiger guards the magic apples, and the leafy canopy catches a hapless airman stranded in the jungle-all in their imaginations. When Mom and Dad present the children with a picture book showing the adventures made possible

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