Sustainably produced and made of sturdy cardboard, “In the Forest” is presented in a large format that invites you to discover the forest as a habitat for the first time. Basic knowledge about trees, the nutrient cycle and forest dwellers is conveyed in a combination of naturalistic hidden object pictures, explanatory texts and graphics. Author Bärbel Oftring and illustrators Christine Henkel and Maria Mähler present different tree species, soil organisms, insects, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and bird species over the course of the year. An atmospheric non-fiction picture book to look at again and again, which is also suitable for looking up thanks to the names that are noted next to the animals and plants: Was that just a bullfinch or a robin? Did a red deer or roebuck seek the protection of the forest? What does oak, larch or Douglas fir look like?
Baerbel Oftring: In the forest. Everything you need to know about our local forests. With illustrations by Maria Mähler and Christine Henkel. Carlsen Verlag, 2022. 18 pages, 10 euros.
Together with the two children Valentina and Linus, two drawn animal figures – dormice and roebuck – accompany the readers through the non-fiction book “Now I understand the trees”, which combines short texts, comic-like illustrations and photographs. The factual knowledge conveyed in this way is supplemented by a quiz and detachable identification cards.
Roland Bock: Now I understand the trees. With illustrations by Johannes Reiner and photos by Fred Britzger. ArsEdition, 2022. 48 pages, 19.99 euros.
The declared goal is to familiarize children of primary school age with 14 native tree species, ten deciduous trees and four conifers and to enable them to recognize them. It also becomes clear here that forest and tree knowledge is much more than school knowledge: Those who are familiar with the forest habitat and understand the connections can actively protect trees and animal forest dwellers. Because author Roland Bock also makes it clear: The forests are not doing well.
“Are trees part of the landscape for you? Are there many trees where you live?” ask author Elisabeth Etz and illustrator Nini Spagl after asking the readers to paint a landscape in the book to start the reading. With playful ease, the two succeed time and again in their informative and amusing non-fiction book to encourage interaction, reflection and intensive study of the subject of trees. In the interplay of striking illustrations in bold colors and clear, true-to-life texts, eight chapters are dedicated to questions about woody plants: Where and how do trees live? For whom are they themselves living space? How many trees are in our homes? Is it true that trees can talk to each other and even call for help from insects? What are we doing to protect them?
Elisabeth Etz, Nini Spagl: A tree rarely comes alone. Leykam Verlag, 2022. 144 pages, 12.99 euros.
Jan Paul Schutten has received many awards for his non-fiction books; His youth non-fiction book “Das Weltall” is currently nominated for the German Youth Literature Prize 2022. Together with illustrator Medy Oberendorff he has now again achieved a great success. In the interplay with Oberendorff’s photo-realistic images, Schutten’s pointed texts in the apt translation by Verena Kiefer not only convey important knowledge, but also repeatedly raise the question of perception: How do we see the forest? As a local recreation area, “industrial site full of flora and fauna factories”, place to eat and be eaten, supplier of raw materials and energy, endangered livelihood? At the beginning of each chapter, atmospheric drawings invite you into the “wonderful world of the forest”. In this way, they draw attention to what is hidden and sharpen the senses for the beauty and importance of the forest. Brilliant!
Jan Paul Schutten, Medy Oberendorff: Wonderland forest. Translated from the Dutch by Verena Kiefer. Gerstenberg Verlag, 2022. 76 pages, 22 euros.