How many trees? by Barroux

How many trees make a forest? Everyone has a different opinion but the wisest answer may come from a surprising source.

One of the things I miss now that I have retired as a Teacher-Librarian is reading aloud to young children. How Many Trees? is a book that just begs to be read aloud or perhaps even be turned into a dramatic performance with eight voices. Here is a video from the Scottish Book Trust.

Who is Barroux?

His full name is Stephane-Yves Barroux. Barroux was born in Paris, he spent much of his childhood in North Africa and later attended art school in France where he now lives. He began illustrating by creating linocut images, and continues to try out various techniques in his work – from collages with antique papers, to oil pastels, to interesting color palettes. Despite all of the countries and far-away lands he’s explored, Barroux still believes that life in books is more extraordinary, where dogs can fly and trees are blue.Here are a few of his books:

Love by Sophia by Jim Averbeck illustrated by Yasmin Ismail

"Art!' cried Grand-mama. 'A six-year-old could do this!' Sophia refrained from pointing out that a six-year-old had."

Ms Paradigm sets the class an assignment. The children have to draw something they love. Sophia tries to paint and draw but nothing looks right until Ms Paradigm explains about perspective. Noodle, Sophia's giraffe friend, helps her understand how this works. When her painting is completed Sophia takes it to show her family. Mother is a judge; father is a businessman; Uncle Conrad is a politician and Grand-mama is the head curator. Sophia is sure her art work should be displayed on the family refrigerator. No one seems to agree with her until she is able to change their perspective.

This is another Sophia book which is filled with utterly delicious words: leniency; injunction; free market; public sector; consideration; radical; avant-garde;and despondent. There is a glossary at the back of the book with an explanation of each word.

This is the third book in the series. All three books should be added to every Primary school library. These books are truly special. You can see some illustrations from Love by Sophia here.

One word from Sophia

If you want to talk about perspective with a young child try to find this book by Pat Hutchins.