Unwrapping...
"Because of an Acorn" by Lola M. Schaefer and Adam Schaefer, illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon
Unwrapping some illustrations for you...
About the book...
Loala M. Shaefer is the author of this fabulous non-fiction picture book, "Lifetime", that looks at the natural world in terms of numbers. It is full of fun facts like: a rattlesnake will add 40 beads to its rattle and a male seahorse will give birth to and carry 1,000 baby seahorses in his lifetime. With today's featured book she takes a completely different take on the natural world. She introduces readers to the concept of food chains and ecosystems. The book is enriched by the beautiful illustrations created by Frann Preston-Gannon.
"Because of an acorn, a tree." begins the story. A cutaway on the first page forms the cup of the acorn and you discover a sprouting sappling when you turn the page. The cutaway and sapling returns in the final pages, this time the leaf of the white oak reveals a forest with a page turn.
Schaefer's gently poetic prose leads the reader through the forest, from an acorn to a tree to a bird who knocks seeds from a pod in the tree. These seeds lead to flowers, fruit... and a chipmunk. The chipmunk attracts a snake, but the snake attracts a hawk. Landing in a tree, the snake in its claws, the hawk causes an acorn to tumble to the ground, which takes the text back to the opening lines, ending with, "Because of an acorn, a forest."
This amazing book gives its readers an intimate visit with nature. The illustratoions add so much enrichment and beauty to the narrative. Her illustrations are simply fantastic. I highly recommend this book.
"Because of an acorn, a tree." begins the story. A cutaway on the first page forms the cup of the acorn and you discover a sprouting sappling when you turn the page. The cutaway and sapling returns in the final pages, this time the leaf of the white oak reveals a forest with a page turn.
Schaefer's gently poetic prose leads the reader through the forest, from an acorn to a tree to a bird who knocks seeds from a pod in the tree. These seeds lead to flowers, fruit... and a chipmunk. The chipmunk attracts a snake, but the snake attracts a hawk. Landing in a tree, the snake in its claws, the hawk causes an acorn to tumble to the ground, which takes the text back to the opening lines, ending with, "Because of an acorn, a forest."
This amazing book gives its readers an intimate visit with nature. The illustratoions add so much enrichment and beauty to the narrative. Her illustrations are simply fantastic. I highly recommend this book.
Storywraps rating: 5 hugs !!!!!
About the author...
For as long as I can remember, I have loved books. In fact, all writers I know have the same passion. We love to read, read, read! As a child I never imagined that one day I would be writing books. It was such a pleasure to visit the public library and the bookmobile and borrow books that I never dreamed of more.
We had a small school library in my elementary school and I read all of the biographies, all of the adventures, and many of the nonfiction titles. It was always a special treat to receive a new book as a gift for a birthday or holiday. I still have those first books – the ones I read again and again, studying the art, memorizing the poems, cheering for the underdogs.
Today I still read books whenever and wherever I can – on our porch, in my office, curled up on the sofa, and always on airplanes. Now I not only read for pleasure (I will never stop reading for entertainment), but I also read like a writer. I watch how other authors build suspense, introduce a character or paint pictures with words. Reading is fuel for my writing. I can’t imagine one without the other.
Enchanting illustrations show the vital connections between the layers of an ecosystem in this magical book. Wander down the forest path to learn how every tree, flower, plant, and animal connect to one another in spiraling circles of life.
An acorn is just the beginning.
About the illustrator...
Frann Preston-Gannon is a London based illustrator and designer. She has freelanced for a wide variety of clients that include: Nosy Crow, Vintage Books, Lonely Planet, Walker Books, Powerhouse Publishing, Scholastic books US, Chronicle Publishing, Pavilion Books, The Times Newspaper, Burt's Bees and Page One Theatre.
Her first picturebook, The Journey Home, was published in October 2012 and was shortlisted for both the Waterstones Children's Prize and the Cambridgeshire 'Read it Again' book Prize. It has also been shortlisted by Junior Magazine for 'Best Picture Book' and 'New Talent'. It was nominated for the Kate Greenaway in 2014. In April 2015 The Journey Home was reimagined as a play by the London based puppet theatre, Little Angels.
In April 2011 she became the first UK recipient of the 'Sendak Fellowship' and spent a month in Autumn living with and learning from the great master of illustration, Maurice Sendak, at his home in Connecticut.
Other awards include a gold medal in the NAPPA (national parenting publication) awards for her title Hot Dog, Cold Dog which was also on the list of Amazon top books for 2 year olds in 2014. She also achieved a bronze award for her unpublished children's illustrations in the 3x3 annual no.8.
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It's a wrap.
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