Tree of Knowledge

Book Description

"Knowing how we know" is the subject of this book. Its authors present a new view of cognition that has important social and ethical implications, for, they assert, the only world we humans can have is the one we create together through the actions of our coexistence. Written for a general audience as well as for students, scholars, and scientists and abundantly illustrated with examples from biology, linguistics, and new social and cultural phenomena, this revised edition includes a new afterword by Dr. Varela, in which he discusses the effect the book has had in the years since its first publication.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent!.......2007-09-25

This book, if read carefully, will change the way that you look at the world. It is powerful and insightful.

So, what's your story?.......2007-05-03

I came to this book years ago through, of all things, a two-year course in business and sales, for which it was required reading along with "Computers and Cognition", another eye-opener; the latter anticipated the current transactional nature of the Internet. You might ask how a work as theoretical and speculative as "Tree of Knowledge" could be part of a pragmatic and hardnosed business course, and that is one key to its attraction for me: as intellectually intriguing as the ideas and assertions in this book are, even more engaging is how they might actually change the way we act in the world.

The authors drill down to molecular biology and then carefully build upward their premise that we construct the worlds we live in out of language. Each of us exists inside a story we tell ourselves about the way the world is, and we are completely contained within that story. In that sense, we interact with other people through the way our stories talk to their stories. And the success of our relationships and the effectiveness with which we act in our world is dependent on how well we can recognize the stories of others and understand the nature of our own story.

This is good news, once we recognize it, because we are a narrative species. On my way to work in the morning, I am telling myself a story about the way I want my day to go: what I expect, what I want to accomplish, how I will confront the challenges along the way. The story I tell myself about my life has heroes and villains, goals and challenges, grand themes and petty foibles. The more we understand the grand, rich, complex stories those around us are telling themselves, the more we can overcome misunderstandings, conflicts and cultural dissonance - the more, in a sense, we can constuct a meta-story that serves us all as human beings.

This is not a quick and simple read, but it is so logically and carefully laid out that I never felt lost along the journey. It is a wonderful book to read in tandem with a friend, or as part of a book club. The discussion and the "aha!" experiences it prompts make for a lively exploration of its ideas. Part of the joy of "Tree of Knowledge" is its potential for promoting tolerance of those different from us, through recognition of what drives their story rather than through compromising our own values.

"ladylucero", in her review, noted that "Tree of Knowledge" is required reading in some American universities. I read that in the authors' native Chile it is even taught in high schools. This, I believe, is good news: the earlier in life we recognize how our individual stories drive our hopes and expectations, our fears and disappointments, the more capable we will be of living well with our fellow human beings.

We forget that we're animals...........2005-09-20

Amazing piece of work. Very slow reading... meaty. Well written. This should be the primer for every field of study in every country. We are first and foremost biological organisms. We live in language like fish in a fish bowl. Fish can't distinguish water. It defines them. Same with language with human beings... we are defined by our listening and speaking and don't have a clue.

The illustrations are the best... I think it is one of the most important books of our time.

Another Look at Knowledge........2004-12-14

Excellent and superb are words that come to mind while reviewing this work. The authors, Drs. Humberto R. Maturana (biologist, University of Chile) and Francisco J. Varela (Foundation de France Professor of Cognitive Sciences and Epistemology, Paris) attempted and succeeded in providing a clear and concise work in a difficult field. Their goal was to "propose a way of seeing cognition not as a representation of the world 'out there,' but rather as an ongoing bringing forth of a world through the process of living itself."

Knowing how we know, or how we perceive is the subject of this intriguing work. In writing on this subject, the authors present a refreshing and new approach to cognition-one which has dramatic cultural, social and ethical ramifications.

The work, originally published in 1987 and re-released in 1992 as a revised edition, is attractive, colorful and well-illustrated. Unlike many books, whose pictures, graphs and figures merely fill space, each illustration performs a beneficial and needed service. In ten chapters, the reader is led slowly through the concepts and disciplines of perception, classification, heredity, biology, psychology, sociology and philosophy.

Since its initial publication, The Tree of Knowledge has received favorable attention from the public, has been out of stock in most bookstores and has been used as an undergraduate text at the University of California. While stimulating the imagination of readers it has, however, not received the scholarly acclaim it richly deserves.

Dr. Carl Edwin Lindgren, DEd
Former Member of the Royal Institution of Great Britain

A Real "Gem" (Apologies to D. C. Stove).......2004-11-18

Maturana's antinomous conclusions are based on the following (embarassingly) invalid inference:

1. All knowing is doing and all doing is knowing
2. Therefore, we can't know the way the world is.

They might just as well have argued:

1. I must use my eyes to see the world.
2. Therefore, I can't see the world.

Average customer rating:

Outstanding
Great Start to Machine Learning
Best book I've seen on topic
too expensive I would say
Excellent book, concise and readable

Machine Learning
Tom M. Mitchell
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0070428077

Book Description

This exciting addition to the McGraw-Hill Series in Computer Science focuses on the concepts and techniques that contribute to the rapidly changing field of machine learning--including probability and statistics, artificial intelligence, and neural networks--unifying them all in a logical and coherent manner. Machine Learning serves as a useful reference tool for software developers and researchers, as well as an outstanding text for college students.

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding.......2007-09-12

I read this book about 7 years ago while in the PhD program at Stanford University. I consider this book not only the best Machine Learning book, but one of the best books in all of Computer Science. It covers every branch of ML I know of and it covers it really well. I found Mitchell's chapter on Neural Networks more insightful than an entire book on NN's that I read. I also found his chapter on Reinforcement Learning more useful and better explained than an entire book on Reinforcement Learning that I also read. The other chapters cover other ML topics at the same level of quality and rigor.

The author did an amazing job in covering the breadth and depth of ML in less than 500 pages. I hope he will write a new edition to cover the advances that happened in the last decade.

Great Start to Machine Learning.......2007-08-27

I have used this book during my masters and found it to be an extremely helpful and a gentle introduction to the thick and things of machine learning applications. The various chapters are nicely paced with helpful problems at the end. Another great thing about the book is treatment of detailed examples with each concept and that the author carefully ties various concepts as they arise, with not just new, but also examples from previous chapters, which helps the user to understand different concepts applied to same problems thereby making clear difference between different methods. Also the author has a dedicated website with updated errata and notes, which is also very helpful! Having said that, I think the book is an introduction to various machine learning methods and one can easily follow on the references listed for detailed treatment of relevant topics.

Best book I've seen on topic.......2007-01-31

I have this book listed as one of the best and most interesting I've ever read. I loved the book just as much as I loved the course we used it in.

I have a genuine interest in AI and especially Machine Learning and this book both inspired me as well as clared some things up for me. Like how the spectrum of different known methods differ in their appoach of different problems.

This book is also very concise and well written, without being too mathematical. Making it very easy to read and understand.

Ever since I took that course I keep returning to this book as a reference when I have a related problem to solve, or just bothering my mind.

Highly recommended!

too expensive I would say.......2006-10-13

great book if you wanna start sth anywhere in machine learning, but it is toooooo expensive.

Excellent book, concise and readable.......2006-06-22

This is a great book if you're starting out with machine learning. It's rare to come across a book like this that is very well written and has technical depth. The writing is to the point, maybe even a bit terse, but all that you need to know is in there. It's a bit old so doesn't cover kernel methods or SVM's but is still a great first machine learning book.

The Remarkable Rainforest: An Active-Learning Book for Kids, New Edition

Average customer rating:

Great teaching tool!

The Remarkable Rainforest: An Active-Learning Book for Kids, New Edition
Toni Albert
Manufacturer: Trickle Creek Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1929432046

Book Description

The Remarkable Rainforest is more remarkable than ever! Completely updated and enlarged, this new edition is so full of activities and information that kids can't help learning about the ecology of rainforests, why they are important, how they are threatened, and how we can help save them. (Teachers love this book!)

The Remarkable Rainforest includes:

A new two-page photo journal that takes kids on a rainforest adventure

A new page of exciting rainforest activities, such as attracting a rainforest bird to your backyard, making rainforest potpourri, and visiting a Rainforest Cafe

A new page with directions for making an indoor rainforest

The author's "Rainforest Journal" about her adventures in the Costa Rican rainforests, which makes the forest "come alive" to children

Learning resources, including a glossary, a bibliography for kids, lists of rainforest exhibits and environmental organizations, and favorite rainforest web sites

Dozens and dozens of activities that are challenging and fun

Customer Reviews:

Great teaching tool!.......2007-05-30

I used this with my third graders in teaching a thematic unit on the rainforest. It is full of maps, activities, information, experiments, a board game, etc. It was an excellent resource that covered all parts of the rainforest. Following some of the articles is a little quiz on the reading---that was an added bonus because there was a ready-made quiz for my kids that I didn't even have to make! This book provided some great information for myself and my students. I would highly recommend it not only as a resource for a classroom teacher, but for any child who is interested in the rainforest. Outstanding!

Average customer rating:

A fun fall book
One of My Favorites!
Fall Is Not Easy
Pre-K Kids will Love
An all time favorite with 4 year olds

Fall Is Not Easy
Marty Kelley
Manufacturer: Zino Press Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1559332344

Book Description

You've got to feel sorry for your average tree. It's got a lot to worry about: squirrels, thunderstorms, kids building forts. Oh, yes, and then there's that pesky business about changing colors for the fall...

Main character in Fall Is Not Easy is a tree that has its share of troubles with its fall colors. No matter what pattern its leaves change into--a smiley face, a a spotted cow, an "Eat at Joe's" sign--nothing seems to work out quite right. How will the tree solve its seasonal dilemma? Leave it to Marty Kelley, author/illustrator of Summer Stinks and The Rules to come up with the perfect solution.

Customer Reviews:

A fun fall book.......2007-02-07

This is our favorite kid's fall book. My children love the story and laugh at the tree's silly attempts to change colors. We have also enjoyed Marty Kelley's winter and summer books (along with his very silly book, "The Rules"). I hope Kelley comes up with an equally creative book about spring to make our collection complete.

One of My Favorites!.......2006-10-08

I have read this book to hundreds of children and adults. I have shared it with my own kids and have read it to children in my first grade class as well as to children in the Storytimes that I have done at the library. I have also highlighted it when doing literature presentations for other teachers. The reaction is always the same. The audience is quiet at first and possibly thinking, "Hmmm. Not very interesting." But then as the tree begins her struggles (I like to think of her as a girl!) there is side-splitting laughter that increases as each page turns. As soon as the book is over a chorus of, "Read it again!" begins and of course, I do! This book is a gem and sharing it each year is one of my favorite things about fall!

Fall Is Not Easy.......2006-03-06

Great childrens book. Mr. Kelley was the 2nd grade teacher for both my girls and they loved all his books and still do.. I would recommend this book to all parents.... Keep writing Marty

Pre-K Kids will Love .......2006-02-25

I read this book to my pre-k kids and they asked to hear it again right after I finished it. The illustrations are comical and very well done. The words flow together wonderfully. Great book to have for your Fall Book Collection.

An all time favorite with 4 year olds.......2004-10-30

I taught 4 year olds for 8 years. I can't remember when I first bought this book but it became an instant favorite. The children will ask to have it read to them many times a day and laugh hystericaly after each reading. By the end of October I was ready to put this book away but my class was not. My copy is getting worn out! This book is an all time favorite with 4 year olds.

Average customer rating:

Kindergarten Egg Tree
The egg and I
A lovely Easter story

The Egg Tree

Manufacturer: Atheneum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0684127164

Amazon.com

When Katy discovers her grandmother's old hand-painted Easter eggs in the attic, she inspires the renewal of a special tradition: the Easter egg tree! This quaint Caldecott Medal-winning story, written half a century ago, will charm today's readers every bit as much as it did their parents and grandparents. Influenced by Pennsylvania Dutch folk art and tradition, Katherine Milhous creates a lovely tale that will leave readers of all ages impatient to break out paint, dye, and brushes to trim their own Easter egg tree. Muted hues of blue, brown, green, orange, and yellow are a welcome respite from the in-your-face vibrancy of contemporary illustrations, and create their own gentle radiance. Age-old designs such as the Bright and Morning Star, the Horn-blowing Rooster, the Cooing Dove, and the Pomegranate decorate the borders and eggs, providing a sense of deep-rooted history and tradition. A beautiful sleeper of a classic. (Ages 5 and older) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

One Easter morning, Katy and Carl went on an egg hunt through Grandmom's house. Katy couldn't find anything until she went up to the attic. And there she discovered a very special set of eggs...

Grandmom had painted them when she was a little girl. And now, she hung them from the branches of a tiny tree -- an Egg Tree! So began a very special Easter tradition.

This Caldecott Medal-winning story of a Pennsylvania Dutch Easter will surely inspire children to make Egg Trees of their very own.

Customer Reviews:

Kindergarten Egg Tree.......2007-03-28

We use this book as a basis each year for an Egg Tree in Kindergarten. We read the story, then water color 2 dimensional construction paper eggs, and I paint the trunk on a bulletin board. The result is so cool--it is wonderfully colorful. I also have some Czech decorated real eggs to show them. This is a great book. For those worried about a religious setting for Easter (I'm not), this story has no mention of Easter as a religious holiday. It is an old story, but sometimes the old stories are the best. I wish the pictures were a little more colorful. I have never seen a publication of this book with more than 3 colors. Maybe it's because I'm a grandma, but I often wish that the older books would be republished. The kids like colors and gravitate toward those books that have newer graphics. But, some of the authors from the 40's, 50's and 60's are wonderful books, such as Margaret Wise Brown, and this one.

The egg and I.......2004-03-14

Easter egg trees just haven't caught on to the same extent their Christmas tree brethren have. In today's high tech, fast-paced, Internet age it's a calming thing to stop a think a little bit about Easter eggs, and the trees on which they hang. "The Egg Tree" won its Caldecott medal in 1951 and became the selection of choice of the Institute of Graphic Arts. Here, author Katherine Milhous has taken the lively colors and sweeping designs of the Pennsylvania Dutch and applied them to a tale of Easter discoveries and mild fame.

Siblings Katy and Carl are spending their Easter seasons with their Grandmom and cousins. This being their first Easter with such relatives, they are woefully unprepared for the annual Easter Egg hunt. Katy is disappointed when she cannot find any eggs, but discovers a cache of beautifully hand-painted eggs tucked away in the attic. This leads to Grandmom teaching all the kiddies how to paint their own eggs, culminating in an egg tree that displays their work (and garners widespread fame as well).

Children unfamiliar with the Pennsylvania Dutch lifestyle will undoubtedly wonder why the characters in this tale look Amish. Some simple explanations (always assuming the parents themselves understand the distinction) may be in order. After that, expect to be fielding requests for egg painting as well. Helpful instructions detailing how one goes about egg painting are included on the back of the book jacket. Certainly the book and the instruction make egg blowing seem to be the simplest thing in the world. Just don't be surprised if you have a mighty difficult time blowing egg yolks out of tiny tiny holes.

On the whole, the book is strong. The colors are a little more muted than those of books today. And apart from Katy's initial fears that she would not find a single egg, there's not much in the way of dramatic tension. But that's all right. This book's a class act through and through. It may seem a bit dated, it's true. Just the same, it's nice to see a book looking at one of the less lauded holidays once in a while.

A lovely Easter story.......2000-09-21

The Egg Tree is a great story about a little girl's Easter morning egg-hunting experience. Though she is unsuccessful, she does uncover a wonderful Easter suprise. The little girl, and the reader, is introduced to the Pennsylvania Dutch technique of painting eggs, when she finds a cache of her grandmother's beautifully decorated eggs. The examples of folk art throughout the book are wonderful, and easily accessible for children. This book will prompt your family to begin their own egg decorating tradition.

Average customer rating:

Love The Monkeys...
Oh Snap
Five Little Monkeys Siting in a Tree
great for preschool
Five Littile Monkeys Sitting in a Tree

Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree
Eileen Christelow
Manufacturer: Clarion Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0395664136

Product Description

PreSchool-K-- The irrepressible crew from Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed (Clarion, 1989) returns in this version of a traditional hand rhyme. The familiar chant tells of five foolish monkeys who are eaten when they tease a hungry crocodile. Christelow chooses a more lighthearted approach, illustrating it in sunny-colored pastels outlined in ink. She places the rhyme in a picnic setting; while the mother dozes, the little monkeys scamper out on a limb and fearlessly call to a crocodile, "You can't catch me!" But the crocodile's jaws snap, and one by one the monkeys disappear. Bright patches of clothing and pairs of little eyes among the leaves will signal perceptive listeners that all is well. Children will enjoy being in on the secret that even the mother monkey, awakened by all the noise, doesn't know. In the upbeat ending, all the children pop out of their hiding places, safe and sound. Some readers may question why the mother snoozes, leaving her brood to look after themselves, or why she doesn't come to their aid when she thinks they are in danger. The intended audience, however, will overlook these lapses of logic as they delight in the mischief-making--a humorous exaggeration of their own antics. --Carey Ayres, Port Washington Public Library, NY Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --

Customer Reviews:

Love The Monkeys..........2007-03-19

My 3 1/2 year old granddaughter has Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed and Five Little Monkeys Bake a Birthday Cake and throughly enjoys having these books read to her.She has also memorized them.So she was very happy to get a copy of Five Litttle Monkeys Sitting in a Tree.It was read twice within a span of a few hours.It has very delightful and colorful pictures in it.We plan to get the rest of the Five Little Monkey books.I bought this book new on ebay for under $4.00 including shipping.

Oh Snap.......2006-04-04

What is with this trend of good kid's books being followed up by seemingly rapidly produced, poorly thought out sequels? As bad as sequel's are in American cinema, I think sequels in children's books are even worse.

We loved Five Little Monkeys Jumping on a Bed. Cute pictures, the fun bouncy lines of the old kid's song, plus an opportunity to practice counting. And there is a lesson there. Kids: Don't jump on the bed. The book legitimizes the temptation, especially at the end when we see the mother taking her turn to jump on the bed. But the monkeys fall off one by one, Momma calls the doctors, and we see the monkeys lines up with there ice bags on their heads in their post-concussive stupors.

But we recently got "Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree." The helpful everyday lesson for kids in this book is don't taunt a crocodile. Okay, perhaps one could generalize this and interpret it as a useful aphorism for navigating hierarchies, but doesn't quite live up to the standard of the nice, concrete "no more monkeys jumping on the bed." But beyond the pointlessness of this book, it's terrifying. Although, in the end it is revealed that the monkeys do not get eaten by the crocodile (and on subsequent readings one spots them hiding in the tree, which is slightly clever), we spend 16 of the 28 pages thinking that some or all of the mischievous monkeys have been eaten by Mr. Crocodile. We see nice colorful illustrations of distressed relatives including the frantic mother sobbing inconsolably.

I know, I've been told I take these books too seriously. Maybe your children won't be as traumatized as I was, I don't know. Maybe it's a good way to teach math. And, I suppose, also an opportunity to teach about the cruel, pitiless realities of the animal kingdom. And to teach that the inherent nature of life is suffering. Ultimately these are important lessons for the toddlers. Just a bit heartless and harrowing for my taste.

Five Little Monkeys Siting in a Tree.......2006-03-23

This book arrived quickly and in excellent condition.

great for preschool.......2005-09-30

I use this for my preschool autism class and the kids love it. Many of them try to clap with their hands when the cocodile goes SNAP! I definately reccomend it.

Five Littile Monkeys Sitting in a Tree.......2003-09-26

The book Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree is about five little monkeys that go on a picnic with their mother. While mother sits down to take a snooze the five little monkeys climb a tree to watch Mr. Crocodile. The five little sitting in a tree tease Mr. Crocodile can't catch me, then along comes Mr. Crocodile and SNAP!! Where did all the monkeys go?? The lesson in this story is not to tease crocodiles, you never know what can happen. The age level on this book I would say would be 4 to 8 years old. I woluld deffinetly recremend this book!!

Average customer rating:

Rereading a favorite!
Nice Coming Of Age Story
I cannot wait for the DVD
Learningtree / Gordon Parks
Gordon Park's "Black Boy"

Learning Tree
Gordon Parks
Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0449215040
Release Date: 1987-06-12

Book Description

"A fine novel."
THE BOSTON HERALD
Photographer, writer, and composer, Gordon Parks has written a moving, true-to-life novel of growing up as a black man in this country in this century. Hailed by critics and readers alike, THE LEARNING TREE tells the extraordinary journey of a family as they struggle to understand the world around them and leave their mark a world that is better for their having been in it.

Customer Reviews:

Rereading a favorite!.......2007-03-04

I first read "The Learning Tree" in a college Literature for Adolescents class twenty years ago and recently reread it for a book discussion group. And I still love this novel. I regret that because of the language, which is certainly appropriate to its subject, I cannot teach it in my conservative school district. However, I can and have highly recommended it to my junior high students, with the language caveat. (On an aside, this book just shows how out of touch many college profs are with what literature we can actually teach in the public schools!)
As for the book itself, it tells a wonderfully interesting and entertaining story, full of the joy of long summer days with friends, the horror of murder, the fear of racial conflict, the blush of first love--and betrayal, and the hard road to growing from a boy into a man. For me, it suffers nothing in comparison to "Black Boy" and "To Kill a Mockingbird." Instead, it complements those novels as a vivid portrayal of growing up in America.
Read it!

Nice Coming Of Age Story.......2007-02-05

Often when a movie is made that is based upon a book, the book is usually better; however, I can't say the same here. As I read this, I found myself thinking more about the movie and how much better the movie scenes were. In any event, this was a pretty good read. It started out rather slowly for me, but picked up about mid-way and I was able zoom through to the end. The book brings forth additional members of Newton's family and touches on other aspects of life that were not a part of the movie (Newt's friendship with Rodney, Newt's cousin who could pass for white). I am hoping for and patiently waiting on the DVD.

I cannot wait for the DVD.......2007-01-04

Gordon Parks, was a photographer, director, writer, and such a gift to the human race. The Learning Tree was is one of my favorite movies. The book is better than the movie but the movie scores high marks as well, because it not only entails racism and growing up in the south but it is of a boy coming of age it is stories within stories he binds them so well together. Family life is the center that is the foundation and he spreads that in the book between various individuals in that town. How a town may come together or be torn apart by lies and truths.

Learningtree / Gordon Parks.......2006-02-27

"Learning Tree" is an inspiring tale and allows good insight on how life was in Kansas in the 1920 and 30s. Later in the story, the plot gives too much resemblance to "Kill a mockingbird" for my taste but, yes, overall the book is very good.

Gordon Park's "Black Boy".......2004-08-24

Anyone else read Black Boy? It's quite obvious that Gordon Parks did, seeing as how he even stoops to taking plot points from the much better book by Richard Wright. Read Black Boy instead, it is much more insightful, well written and powerful, still dealing with the same issues.

Average customer rating:

Pleasant Yet Disappointing

The Tree That Came to Stay
Anna Quindlen , and Nancy Carpenter
Manufacturer: Viking Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0670877042

Customer Reviews:

Pleasant Yet Disappointing.......2007-02-12

I just read a library copy to my 3 1/2 yr. old. The concept is good but the story progression, sentence structure and abuse of the comma did not make it enjoyable to read. Two other disappointments: 1) some of the Mom's responses to her children; and 2) the word "hate" used in place of "I don't like" by the children in the story. The illustrations are beautiful. Nancy Carpenter is very talented and she is the reason I selected the book. Other books we have read illustrated by Nancy Carpenter, Rapunzel, Little Red, Can You Dance Dalia? and Loud Emily.

Average customer rating:

Fabulous!
Made and impact!
Determination to learn in spite of the threatened punishment

Up the Learning Tree
Marcia K. Vaughan
Manufacturer: Lee & Low Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1584300493

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous!.......2007-02-12

I love this book! It is so encouraging to young students, because it shows them the obstacles that so many people had to overcome in order to learn in the past. In addition to being a great piece of historical fiction, it let's today's children see that nothing should ever stand in their way of learning. This book is perfect as a read aloud story, and one that children 9 and up can read independently.

Up the Learning Tree tells the story of Henry and Ms. Hattie. Henry is determined to learn how to read, despite having a slave master who will chop off his finger if he's caught. Ms. Hattie is a teacher who moves to the south and does not believe "in slavery or in keeping people ignorant". The two work together at great personal risk. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Made and impact!.......2005-05-07

Honestly - I've never read this book. My 7-year-old nephew, all lit up and enthused, told me the story after his 1st grade teacher read it to his class. He had been so impressed by the plot and characters that he was able (and eager) to tell me, in great detail, the entire story. A book having this much impact on a young child is a truly beautiful thing. He learned much about history, the importance of learning, and compassion.

Determination to learn in spite of the threatened punishment.......2003-11-17

Up The Learning Tree is a picture book story ably written by Marcia Vaughan and set in the American South before the Civil War. In an era when black slaves were not allowed to read or write, one young boy burns with curiosity to know about the power hidden within books. His determination to learn in spite of the threatened punishment pushes him to make a remarkable discovery about himself, and to discover the highest kindness from others. Impressively illustrated by Derek Blanks, Up The Learning Tree is a very thoughtful story for young readers ages 4 to 8 with powerful underlying messages about history and personal drive.

Average customer rating:

Educational and beautifully illustrated

Oak Tree
Gordon Morrison
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Botany | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Trees | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0395956447

Book Description

As the oak tree blossoms, robins and squirrels begin to build their nests, bees fly in and out of their hive, and the tree comes to life. Not only is the oak a living thing itself, it is also a habitat for other living creatures that depend on it for nesting, food, and shelter. Readers follow the tree and its inhabitants through seasons of flowering, leafing and fruiting, the return to a deep winter sleep, and the springtime reawakening -- completing a cycle which has gone unbroken for more than one hundred years.

Customer Reviews:

Educational and beautifully illustrated.......2002-08-22

Gordon Morrison's "Oak Tree" tells a simple story. It opens with an oak tree reviving and putting out buds in springtime. Morrison follows the majestic tree through all the seasons of the year, and depicts the diverse community of animals that live in and around it: the mourning cloak butterfly, red-tailed hawk, downy woodpecker, gray squirrel, honeybees, skunks, tree crickets, gray tree frog, and more.

This elegant but earthy book is packed full of nature facts. The beautiful illustrations are rich in detail. It seems to me that Morrison has a deep reverence for nature; such a reverence is communicated to me through this wonderful book. If you've never had the urge to hug a tree before, you just might want to do so after reading "Oak Tree."

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