Best Nonfiction Elementary Books of 2024 and starred review from the School Library Journal
Five star review from the Canadian Review of Materials
Reviewed by the Canadian Children's Book News Summer/Fall 2024
Included in the Sept/Oct issue of
TEACH Magazine
[Scroll down for reviews & awards]
MOTHER ASPEN
Written by Annette LeBox - Illustrations by Crystal Smith
Published by Groundwood Books
Mother Aspen
A Story of How Forests Cooperate & Communicate
A story of symbiosis, inspired by the groundbreaking work of Dr. Suzanne Simard
For centuries, Mother Aspen has cared for her community. She shelters and feeds the inhabitants of her grove. She is hundreds of years old, and her children are the sprouts that she sends up from her roots. Above ground, the aspens use the sun to produce sugar. Below ground, fungi wrap threads around the aspens’ roots, feeding on the sugar that they cannot make themselves. And in exchange, the fungi carry messages from tree to tree — warnings of drought, disease and infestations.
As the seasons and years pass, the forest inhabitants continue to thrive by working together — but when a violent storm upends the order of things, can the forest survive without its mother tree?
Included in the School Library Journal's Best Nonfiction Elementary Books of 2024.
(2024, Nov 22.) The Best Nonfiction Elementary 2024 | SLJ Best Books. School Library Journal. Kimberly Olson Fakih, Vi Ha, Mary Lanni, John Scott
Part of a review of kids books for the month of November by the Calgary Herald.
(2024, Nov 2.) Hesson: Children's Books for November 2024. Calgary Herald. Barbra Hesson.
A colourful review of Mother Aspen in the Youth Services Book Review.
(2024, Nov 21.) Mother Aspen by Annette LeBox, illustrated by Crystal Smith. Youth Services Book Review. Michelle Fontaine.
A lengthy review with in-depth thoughts about the book.
(2024, Nov 1.) "Mother Aspen: A Story of How Forests Cooperate and Communicate" by Annette LeBox, illustrated by Crystal Smith. Groundwood Books, Toronto, 2024, 32 pages, K-3. Southern Nebraska Register. Terrance Nollen.
Included in a fantastic fall collection of books over here in the Magazine.
(2024, Sept/Oct.) Trees. TEACH Magazine.
A wonderful interview with the author, Annette LeBox.
(2024, Sep 18.) Maple Ridge Author's Latest Book in Honour of the Mother Tree. Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News. Colleen Flanagan.
An interview about the creative process with illustrator, Crystal Smith.
(2024, Sept 16.) Mother Aspen: A Beautiful New Picture Book by Annette LeBox. My Interview with the Illustrator, Crystal Smith & a Review. Darlene Beck Jacobson.
Five stars and a great review from the Canadian Review of Materials.
(2024, September.) Mother Aspen: A Story of How Forests Cooperate and Communicate. Canadian Review of Materials. Gail Hamilton.
A comprehensive review by Sal's Fiction Addiction.
(2024, Sept 7.) Mother Aspen. Sal's Fiction Addiction.
Recommended as a back to school favourite!
(2024, Sept 5.) VM Back to School Roundup. Vancouver Mom. Jenn Wint.
A review in the Quebec Library Association. (english)
(2024, Aug 16.) Review: Mother Aspen. ABQLA: Quebec Library Association. Alexander Slack.
Included in the fall book preview at the Quill & Quire.
(2024, August 7.) 2024 Fall Preview: Books for Young People—Young Adult and Nonfiction. Quill & Quire. Inderjit Deogun and Linda Ludke.
Review in the Summer/Fall 2024 edition of the Canadian Children's Book News.
(2024, Summer/Fall.) Mother Aspen. Canadian Children's Book News. Aileen Wortley.
A recommendation from the Booklist. (Subscription required to view.)
(2024, Aug 1.) Mother Aspen: A Story of How Forests Cooperate and Communicate. Booklist. Henrietta Thornton.