Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 01/01/2025 Many books show the life cycle of an apple, but few include such friendly-looking seeds and so much additional information about trees in a broader context. With a “Wheeee!” and a gleeful smile, an apple falls to the ground—and from there, this cheerful presentation explains how the apple’s seed “snuggles into the cozy ground,” grows from a seedling to a grand tree over the course of 80 years, and changes seasonally, with one of her last apples starting the cycle anew. In addition, one section explains how trees communicate through underground networks; another briefly shows how other species around the world—from weeping willows to baobabs—differ. Despite the overall storytime feel, terms like photosynthesis and mycelia are introduced effectively and defined quickly and simply in the text. Giving the trees, sun, and other natural elements’ smiling faces, while keeping the large-font narrative to a sentence or two per page, makes this an especially welcoming but still informative read for emergent young botanists. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.