This lusciously illustrated book tells the story of the Daintree Forest from over hundreds of years ago through to today. We begin at a time 200 years ago when seeds from a Bull Kauri pine explode into the air, dropping slowly to the ground.
Some of the Kauri seeds are being eaten. One by a Musky Rat-kangaroo, another by a bush turkey. ‘But one lies unnoticed …’ . This little seed takes root and begins to grow.
As we follow the story of this little seed, growing taller and taller, we learn all about the forest. Kauri pines have been growing in Australia for more than 200 million years. Trees can be up to 600 years old.
It’s now 180 years ago. Our little seed continues to grow and reach for the light. Nearby a dingo has caught the scent of a bandicoot and a water dragon is munching on a Rhinoceros beetle. ‘Beetles make up around one-quarter of all species on Earth!’
As we travel through time, we travel up through the canopy with our Kauri. Seasons come and go, we meet butterflies and the Hercules moth, white-lipped tree frogs calling in the night and pythons who slither around tree branches. There is 430 species of birds in the Daintree. There is much to learn and see on every page. All the while our Kauri pine is growing stronger and taller.
As we reach today, our Bull Kauri pine is now 650 metres tall, towering about the treetops.
This book is as much a work of art as a fabulous reading experience and learning tool. It’s a storybook surrounded by small chunks of information about the animals and plants that call the Daintree home. I was swept along with the tale, searching the page for our Kauri, filled with a sense of wonderment for this oldest rainforest in the world.
Buy it, borrow it, but please put Seed to Sky into the hands of a young reader and let them be inspired.
Reviewed by Rowena Morcom
Age Guide 4+
Teachers’ Resource
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pamela Freeman is an award-winning children’s author who has also worked as a freelance business and technical writer. Pamela’s work ranges from picture books to young adult novels and she is best known for her Floramonde series of fantasy novels which include The Willow Tree’s Daughter, Windrider and The Centre of Magic.
The Castings Trilogy is Pamela’s highly successful fantasy series for adults published by Hachette Australia. In addition to this, she teaches creative writing to adults at the Sydney Writers’ Centre. Victor’s Challenge won the 2009 Aurealis Award for Best Children’s Short Fiction/Illustrated Work/Picture Book and was a Notable Book in the Younger Readers Category, Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards, 2010.
Visit Pamela Freeman’s website
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Liz Anelli once had a job dusting dinosaurs at London’s Natural History Museum. Nowadays she draws every day and illustrates picture books; combining collage, printmaking and paint into digitally composed artworks. These have collected numerous shortlistings and awards. In between books she creates quirky illustrated maps.
Having spent 10 glorious years in Australia she and her husband are now living in Cambridge, England. Liz loves sharing her passion for making pictures at festivals, libraries and schools around the world.
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