Bristlecone

Living for more than five thousand years, ancient bristlecone pines are the oldest trees on Earth. Interweaving lovely, meticulously drawn pictures with a story line that spans 5,000 years, Alexandra Siy invites youngnaturalists to explore the secrets of the world’s oldest trees—secrets of the earth’s climate, recorded in their treerings, and secrets of the bristlecones’ resilience, as a species that lives in the harshest ofenvironments. Recorded in their rings is evidence of a changing planet. A volcano erupts in 2036 BC. In 775, astorm explodes on the sun. Lightning strikes in 1122. And during the 20th century, the temperature increasesdramatically. Alexandra Siy’s lyrical text, paired with Marlo Garnsworthy’s meticulously researched mixed mediapaintings, reveals the life cycle of the mysterious and ancient bristlecone pine. Free, downloadable activities designed to accompany the book are available on the publisher's website. Research,nature, art, vocabulary, and literature activities addressCommon Core State Standards: ELA/Literacyand Next Generation Science Standards.