THE SAD TREE AND PRONUBA by Christina Steiner

RATED 5 TREES

THE SAD TREE 

and

PRONUBA

by

Christina Steiner

illustrated

by

Mary Manning

 

Paperback, 32 pages

Published October 29th 2013

 by Outskirts Press

A Lonely Tree and a Special Friend

OVERVIEW

(from Goodreads)

A Lonely Tree and a Special Friend... The desert is a lonely place for Joshua, a tree who has never seen another tree like him. He asks everyone in his environment to help him find a companion...but although the desert loves him, nobody can help. Things change for Joshua one beautiful spring night when a tiny moth comes to visit. This exquisite story about the life-cycle relationship between the Joshua Tree and the Pronuba Moth will delight readers of all ages.

REVIEW

The story is set in the California desert.  Here stands a lone  and lonely Joshua tree.  The tree's name is also Joshua. Come springtime the strong tree has lovely flowers, but when the hot summer comes they wither. Come fall and winter there is a limb added to the tree. There are no other trees. Joshua is the only one.   He has no friends, so he asks the wind.  The wind sometimes plays games with him.  The wind tells Joshua to look behind a big rock.  What a surprise?  There stands another Joshua tree that Joshua never noticed.  Joshua likes springtime because Pronuba comes to admires the blooming flowers on the Joshua tree.  Pronuba is a moth. Pronuba wants to lay her eggs and pollen in Joshua's flowers.  Pronuba says that she will take pollen to the distant Joshua tree and Joshua agrees. Pronuba kept her word and goes to Joshonna, the distant Joshua tree.  She lays eggs and pollen there and then takes pollen from Joshonna to Joshua.   After time the eggs become caterpillars that leave the seed pods to blow about.  This is how the Joshua trees multiplied.  Every seedpod became another little tree.  The author wrote such a simple and interesting story of introducing young readers to biology and the reproductive state. The story also brings about friendship and keeping your word as Pronuba did when she promised to take pollen and eggs to Joshonna.  Ms. Steiner wrote a lovely book with beautiful illustrations that help a child understand.  There is even a place on the first page where the child can put his or her name.  That makes it their book.  That is so important to a child. I would recommend this book to the young and the young at heart.  It's a fantastic introduction to the life of nature.  First rate book.

I would give this book a solid 5 TREES.

I was given a complimentary copy of THE SAD TREE and PRONUBA by Christina Steiner for my unbiased opinion.  No other compensation took place.

 

AUTHOR

Christina Steiner lives in Southern California. She is the mother of two daughters, who loved illustrated children's books when they were growing up. The Sad Tree and Pronuba was inspired by Christina's visit to the Mojave Desert, where she became fascinated by the Joshua Tree and the desolate environment in which it flourishes. 

LINKS

http://bemiown.blogspot.com 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18770623-the-sad-tree-and-pronuba?ac=1

http://www.shelfari.com/books/36984980/The-Sad-Tree-and-Pronuba

www.outskirtspress.com/thesadtreeandpronuba

http://www.amazon.com/Sad-Tree-Pronuba-Christina-Steiner/dp/1432798936