Trout Are Made of Trees by April Pulley Sayre, Kate Endle (Illustrator)

Publishers Weekly

Returning to a familiar subject, Sayre (Trout, Trout, Trout) brings her ichthyological knowledge to bear in this primer on river ecology. "In fall, trees let go of leaves,/ which swirl and twirl/ and slip into streams." Alliterative verse zips to the point as it describes the tiny aquatic creatures that eat the leaves and begin a consumption cycle ("Crane flies, caddisflies,/ shrimp, and stoneflies shred leaves./ Rip and snip!"). Studying this food chain, in Endle's (Bella and the Bunny) interpretation, are a boy and girl camping streamside with their dads. Mixed-media collages in autumnal hues show the pair gathering river samples and putting their large, lemon-shaped faces close to the water's edge. Endle's work is highly detailed and carefully patterned when depicting the fish and water life, but bland and static when she includes the humans. Endnotes discuss the life cycle of trout (the story seems to take a mini-detour for a three-spread overview of the topic). Tips for young environmentalists are also included. Ages 4-7. (Feb.)

Children's Literature

Sayre explains how "trout are made of trees" beginning with the leaves that fall off into streams. The cycle continues as bacteria feed on the leaves, and algae grow. Creatures eat these, and are in turn eaten by predators. Then come the trout that eat them, and produce more trout. And then "the people…catch the trout and eat them." The brief, brisk text joins all into the circle of life. Endle's mixed media collages are more complex than the minimal text. Mostly double-page scenes emphasize the flowing streams where the action takes place. The water teems with the shapes of the leaves, rocks, fallen branches, and various life forms. Shades of brown tend to dominate, providing an effective background for the objects while creating a gentle emotional sensibility. The presence of a couple of curious youngsters in a few scenes, cartoon-y with their flat faces and minimal features, is almost an intrusion. The text is supplemented with details on the life cycle of the trout, suggestions for how to be a "stream hero," and a list of resources. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3- A seemingly impossible premise, "Trout are made of trees," is at the heart of this explanation of the life cycle of a trout. A boy and girl, one white, one black, are exploring the stream and its inhabitants with their parents. In clear sentences, young readers follow autumn leaves as they fall from a tree into the water, are softened by algae and eaten by other creatures, which are then consumed by the trout. A more detailed explanation is included at the end of the book. Attractive collage illustrations in natural colors fill the spreads and help to explain the text. This unique introduction to how changes in nature create the food web illustrates how the whole world is interconnected.-Christine Markley, Washington Elementary School, Barto, PA

Kirkus Reviews

An unusual blend of narrative, poetry and science, this is an appealing introduction to the food web. Sayre's lyrical prose describes leaves falling into a stream where, after their surfaces are softened by bacteria and algae, they are eaten by crane flies, shrimp and other "shredders." These shredders are then eaten by unidentified predators, which are in turn eaten by trout. The text goes on to describe briefly the process of trout reproduction and then completes its journey through the food web with the final words: "Trout are made of trees. So are the bears and the people who catch the trout and eat them." Endle's illustrations feature, along with a vibrant natural setting in rich golden tones, two children actively engaged in observing and studying the stream. The illustrations, done in mixed-media collage, are a testament to the fact that wondrous new things can be created out of the pieces of other things, and thus, they reinforce the theme of interconnectedness that is the heart of this offering. (notes on the life cycle of trout and stream conservation, resource list) (Picture book/nonfiction. 4-8)

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