A Year Around the Great Oak

Anna and Benjamin live in the city but love to stay with their cousin Robin in the countryside. Robin takes the children to see his favourite tree in the nearby forest: a 300-year-old giant oak.Each time the children visit, they are amazed at how the forest and the mighty oak changes with the seasons. In autumn, they build a cosy den in the tree’s roots to watch the squirrels. In winter, they learn to ski in the shelter of the forest. In spring, they search the forest for animals. But some creatures can be dangerous, and one night, the old oak tree helps Benjamin when he discovers something he wasn’t expecting…Join Anna and Benjamin as they spend the seasons with the great oak tree, and discover the fascinating plants and animals that live around it.This new, expanded edition of A Year Around the Great Oak is a compelling combination of engaging story and educational information to delight and teach readers. Discover new detailed and accurate illustrations and fascinating fact pages, alongside the wonderful seasonal story from Gerda Muller, creator of the beloved Seasons board books, A Year in Our New Garden and How Does My Garden Grow?

Reviews of A Year Around the Great Oak

'Realistic, delicate paintings use pattern, light and soft colors to track nature's transformation of the old oak tree during a single year in an innocent style reminiscent of Barbara Cooney. Simplified natural details of individual plants, birds and animals invite close inspection, while holistic scenes of the oak evoke an idyllic seasonal atmosphere. A charming celebration of the changing seasons.'– Kirkus Review'This is an exquisite work of art with a timeless quality … A must for all libraries and schools.'– Carousel'Unpredictable, stimulating and ultimately confidence-inducing … Gerda Muller, whose work may be familiar from her other nature-imbued children's books ('Goldilocks and the Three Bears', 'Where Do They Go When It Rains?'), draws each activity and animal with great detail and attention. Leaf shapes are accurate, and the picture of the children making their hideout from sticks and leaves is as good as a scouting manual; for readers with access to woods this could prove to be a useful as well as a handsome book.'– The New York Times.com'A must for every child's library and for any teacher looking for fictional works to support environmental education in the early years.'– UK National Association for Environmental Education'With gorgeous illustrations and an engaging story, Gerda Muller takes us into a forest where we get to be a part of Great Oak's magical world for a little while. Young readers will appreciate the simple adventures that the children have in autumn, winter, spring and summer when they visit the tree.'– Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews