Tree's Company

It has become common for trees to be brought down regularly in city neighbourhoods across the country. Further afield, where our eyes can’t see and don’t notice, trees are brought down by the thousands in the name of development — to widen roads and build highways and bridges, to set up some industry or the other, to make way for human settlements. In the last several decades alone, entire forests have disappeared like they were never there. So, yes, we absolutely should talk about trees.

Roopa Pai’s Let’s Talk About Trees asks (and supplies answers to) questions starting with what a tree actually is, how many kinds of trees there are, what they eat to stay alive, how they stand instead of flopping down, and how you can tell their age (or rather, can you?). The book is chock-full of information; it’s a young learner’s guide, and not one you can rush through. There is a lot to absorb in the book, which also includes activities for 8 – 12-year-olds. This means that readers can keep it and use it for a long time, but it also means that they might have to go-stop-go, depending on what level they are at. Activities range in complexity from fairly simple craft and filling in blanks to figuring out puzzles, a little math, and even an easy-to-follow recipe. Almost all need supervision.

The section on Indian trees is sure to be a hit. These are easily recognisable neighbourhood species, and it’s simply not possible that one has not come across their beloved forms, many possibly on the street where you live.

An information-cum-activity book, this one assures us right at the beginning that “trees will continue to hang around…quietly being fabulous” long after humans have vanished from the face of this earth. Forgive me for being pessimistic, but from where we are today, it’s easier to imagine a Wall‑E-like scenario of a decimated treeless earth than dream thusly. Certainly, one hopes that they will continue to exist in some form or the other, but it is better to lay out the bleak truth early on, no matter how young the audience. In a later chapter, the author does connect the loss of tree cover to climate change.

Then there are bits that make you wonder who the book is written for. In a chapter on facts about trees, Pai starts: Nine-eleven (…) if you are old enough to remember the horrific event or have heard about it, or have visited the memorial in New York City… This would make a reader 23 years old! How likely is it that a Gen Alpha kid would have just somehow heard about that incident; and sure, have money will travel, but what about the rest? Other than a shared date with the Bishnoi massacre on 11 September 1730 (which is what this chapter is about), ⁹⁄₁₁ has no connection to trees whatsoever. What follows from this very vague and unnecessary parallel is a gory story, and parental guidance is very much advised.

In places, the writing style jars, especially where Pai is directly addressing her younger readers. The tone veers between jokey camaraderie with exclamations that go “Eh what?”, “Duh!”, etc., to school teacher‑y: go out into your garden, the street, the park, anywhere that you can find a tree and LOOK at it. NOW. Don’t forget to take this book with you…Go on then!

A word about Barkha Lohia’s beautiful tree illustrations. The muted earth colours and cool greens lend the book elegance and bring to life favourite trees that are familiar to all of us. She doesn’t have the same dexterity with the human and animal form, but in a book where trees are stars it doesn’t really matter. One wishes there had been a Lohia-directed activity on how to draw parts of a tree.

Let’s Talk About Trees was created under the ‘Project Mission Million Trees’ to “generate awareness among children about the ecological importance of planting native trees and improving green cover.” Although it would have benefitted from some sharp editing, the book is a good addition to any green bookshelf.

Tree’s Company

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