Even though Can You Hear the Trees Talking? is aimed at children, I decided to borrow it for a change of pace. I had also decided I didn't have the patience to read [b:The Hidden Life of Trees|28256439|The Hidden Life of Trees What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World|Peter Wohlleben|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464281905l/28256439._SX50_.jpg|48295241] which is also written [a:Peter Wohlleben|4110912|Peter Wohlleben|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1474069110p2/4110912.jpg].

Wohlleben actually does a quite a good job of explaining some complex information about trees, without oversimplifying things for his target audience. He does compare some concepts to human emotions, such as do trees get sick or do they sleep? For the most part he uses correct scientific terms to answer those questions. The illustrations and photos also add interest while reinforcing the concepts. The suggested experiments are an added bonus for kids, though I didn't try any of the activities myself. I actually enjoyed the text and photos and found myself learning some new things about how trees interact.

One small quibble over the ebook version of this book. The text is small and isn't adjustable as in most ebooks. If you really want to enjoy the book without straining your eyes, I'd recommend borrowing or buying the hardcover copy instead. ( )

Achild-friendly version of the popular adult title The Hidden Life of Trees (2016).

There is irony in the idea of revising for children an adult book that boldly challenges the conventional science that keeps humanity strongly detached from the plant kingdom. Indeed, many books for children already deliberately and effectively use terminology of human activities to introduce the vocabulary and rudiments of photosynthesis, and so does this text. The latter word never occurs here, although it states: “Leaves mix water with certain parts of the air to make sugar,” and notes the need for light to produce energy. It goes on to describe tree leaves as having thousands of tiny mouths for breathing and later notes that trees don’t drink in winter because “you can’t drink ice cubes.” Intense anthropomorphism continues throughout, with chapters discussing such topics as tree classrooms, mother trees, and how an “annoyed” birch tree will use the wind to whip its branches against an encroaching tree. Occasionally, readers will notice apparent contradictions, unlikely assumptions, and odd duplication, perhaps a result of the reduction. Nevertheless, the book is full of pertinent information, including the importance of fungi to roots and of trees to one another. The author transmits both wonder and fun, even adding tree-themed activities for children to try with willing adults. A forest’s worth of appealing sidebars, pop-up quizzes with fascinating statistics, and colorful photographs add to a strong subtext: Forest preservation is not just important, but imperative.

A tree-treatise treat. (Nonfiction. 8-12)

-Kirkus Review

This is an informational text about trees based on the book The Hidden Life do Trees. It is broken up by questions and their answers. Each page has pictures to illustrate the responses. I would use this with 3-5th to answer specific questions about trees. I can see this being a great way to pique curiosity about forests and promote research to answer specific questions. ( )