• Age: 3 to 6
• Grade: p to 1

A lyrical story of an aspen grove through the seasons, inspired by the ground-breaking work of Dr. Suzanne Simard on how trees and fungi talk to each other.

In early spring, the Mother Tree wakens. She is hundreds of years old, and her children are the sprouts that she sends up from her roots. They look like many separate trees, but they are all part of the Mother Tree.

Above ground, the aspens use the sun to produce sugar. Below ground, fungi wrap threads around the aspen’s roots, feeding on the sugar that they cannot make themselves. And in exchange, the fungi carry messages from tree to tree — warnings of drought, disease and infestations.

Through the seasons and years, the Mother Tree shelters and feeds the other trees, the animals that make their home in the grove and the fungi that make it possible for the trees to talk to each other. But when a violent storm upends the order of things, can the forest survive without its Mother Tree?

This story of symbiosis, richly illustrated by Crystal Smith, shows how the forest inhabitants thrive by working together. An author’s note explains the significance of mycorrhizal networks and why it is crucial to protect aspen forests.

Key Text Features

Illustrations

author’s note

further information

resources

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.K.7

With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which they appear (e.g., what person, place, thing, or idea in the text an illustration depicts).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.1.4

Ask and answer questions to help determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases in a text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.3

Describe the connection between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text.

ANNETTE LEBOX is a poet and an environmental activist who divides her time between Maple Ridge, British Columbia, and a remote cabin in the Cariboo grasslands. She has won the BC Book Prize for illustrated children’s literature twice: for Salmon Creek, illustrated by Karen Reczuch, and for Peace Is an Offering, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin, which was also selected for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. She is also the author of the YA novel Circle of Cranes.

Annette LeBox's profile page

CRYSTAL SMITH is the daughter of a lighthouse keeper who discovered her passion for wildlife when she was small. She illustrates the natural world to spark curiosity and wonder, kindle concern, and illuminate issues. She has illustrated Maybe a Whale, written by Kirsten Pendreigh, which received a starred review from Horn Book, and Mother Aspen, written by Annette LeBox. Crystal currently lives in Victoria, BC.

Crystal Smith's profile page

• Commended, School Library Journal Best Books

Children and adults alike will delight in this attractive book that reveals the intricacies and resilience of nature.

Canadian Children's Book News

The lush illustrations are full of texture and vibrant colors.

Youth Services Book Review

Smith's vibrant [illustrations] of the tree and forest dwellers are bursting with life and are a highlight of the book.

Booklist

Poetic and visually stunning, Mother Aspen: A Story of How Forests Cooperate and Communicate is an absolute delight from start to finish.

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

A wonderful resource for classrooms and a beautiful look at life cycles and seasons.

Calgary Herald

Lyrical language that informs and evokes connection with the forest community, along with detailed and saturated illustrations that capture readers' emotions, make this year-in-the-life of an aspen grove a stellar selection. ... A perfect combination of information, artwork, and emotional impact. STARRED REVIEW

School Library Journal