I read this book with my 3 year old. The questions were over his head, but he still loved it. By simply discussing the pictures he learned about seasons, weather, the life cycle of a tree, and how painting techniques contribute to the mood of a piece of art.

I absolutely love Thomas Locker's art and share his love of trees. Each page of this book presents the same tree in a different light or season. Candance Christiansen's scientific and teaching background add good information to Locker's books. However, for me, it's still Locker's beautiful oil paintings that are the primary draw.
His painting of the tree with a night sky transports me to Georgia O'Keeffe's tree at night or Van Gogh's Starry Night. I'd have been just as thrilled with it at 3 as I am at 53.

This is one of the most awesome books I have discovered for children in a long time. The pictures are wonderful, the questions asked about the pictures are pertinent and thought provoking, and the notes in the back of the book are great!
I found this book in our school library, brought it home to share with my granddaughter, and she was fascinated! I am purchasing this book for my family library! Kudos to the author and illustrator!

Thanksgiving is given a new point of view and retelling in this very special picture book. Jean Craighead George, the Newbery Medal-winning author of JULIE OF THE WOLVES, as well as nearly 100 distinguished nature books for young readers, presents the story of the first Thanksgiving with warmth, fascinating detail, and lyrical as well as informative storytelling. Thomas Locker's colorful, classical paintings beautifully complement the author's words. The story begins with the formation of Plymouth Rock, a huge, two-million year old glacial mass that comes to rest in Cape Cod. Then the Pawtuxet tribe arrives, earning their living from the land, including Squanto, who is later captured by Englishmen and sold into slavery. Across the ocean, Pilgrims seeking religious freedom set out on a perilous voyage to America. Upon reaching the New World, they must deal with many hardships including disease, starvation, and death. Still the Pilgrims endure. In the springtime, Squanto, freed from slavery and now a member of another Indian tribe, arrives, bringing peace to the people of Plymouth. He teaches them how to grow crops, catch fish, hunt deer and turkey, showing the Pilgrims the importance of respecting the land and using it wisely. In 1621, after a bountiful harvest, a great celebratory feast takes place for three days, in which the people gather and eat and play games--the first Thanksgiving. This story is a unique portrayal of historical events, always keeping the reader intrigued and awed, with its terrific writing and inspirational illustrations. As she does in every one of her books, Jean Craighead George reminds us of the need to honor our natural resources and every living thing on the planet. In this story, too, she sends a message of peace that will inspire every person and reach beyond one day in November, to give thanks every day for what we have.

Want to know where Plymouth Rock came from and what it has to do with the pilgrims? What happened when the Mayflower finally sighted land? This is the book for you. The First Thanksgiving is history, community, geology, and science in a very beautifully illustrated and believable story of the colonization of Massachusetts. The pilgrims came to the New World looking for religious freedom only to be met by fear, death, hunger, and an insightful and helpful Pawtuxet, Squanto. It was from his willingness to share his knowledge that we have the celebration of Thanksgiving.

Grandfather's Christmas Tree is a beautifully written and illustrated non-fiction book. The story is about the author's grandfather and a tall spruce tree outside his home. The illustrations are done in oil paints. This is a wonderful story about family and should be included in everyone's Christmas reading collection.

Beautifully illustrated story of family 100 years ago moving westward to Colorado and making a new home and battling the elements. Saving a family of geese, one injured, from a rough winter, and staying committed to each other thru rough times makes story engrossing and rewarding.

I was fortunate to hear the author speak in the early 90s in my hometown of Syracuse, NY. He is an engaging storyteller. It was then that I discovered his book. The artwork in this edition is rich and appealing. The vignettes of each moon, combined with the illustrations, make an appealing canvas for young and/or exploring minds.

This book is an excellent work of Native American children's literature. Joseph Bruchac is a well-known Abenaki story-teller who profiles in this book the thirteen moons of the year, and profiles for each moon what is important about that season to different Native Nations. The artwork is a beautiful compliment to the story. If you are looking for a solid and sensitive look at inter-tribal stories for children, this is a great place to start!

As Tom was forming the images for this book he fell extremely ill. While in a deep and long coma he met Henry and based upon that meeting several of the images in this book were changed. These beautiful images of the Hudson River and in particular Storm King Mountain will haunt and excite you as you consider how this area was formed and has survived man's interference. The essence of this area will be finally synthesized in his next book, The Story of a River. When completed this will give you a private insight into time and ecology not found anywhere else.

Written and illustrated by Thomas Locker, Walking With Henry is a warm and resplendently beautiful picture book based on the life and works of Henry David Thoreau. Majestic painted landscapes showcase simple descriptions drawn from and inspired by the man who loved to walk in the wilderness. Walking With Henry is a highly recommended and heartwarming tribute suitable for young readers of all ages, and aptly serve to introduce the life and work of America's most famous and enduringly popular naturalists.

This beautiful picturebook is the story of an old Dutch artist's young apprentice, a boy who is so talented at such a young age that the king himself commissions him to come to court to paint a portrait of all the nobles.

Adrian, the apprentice, has learned the art of capturing true likenesses on canvas, and it is for this that the king admires him so. But people don't often like to see their real faces, and when Adrian finishes the portrait the nobles and ladies of the court, they all gather to abuse him for "misrepresenting" them in image and they try to force him to change the portrait to be more flattering- and untruthful.

The Young Artist is a wonderful story about artistic integrity and the meaning of success. It is accompanied by truly magical pictures, created by a man who is himself a master artist. I love the story, but Locker's paintings for his story are what make this book an enduring favorite of mine. I highly recommend that anyone interested in children's literature find and read this and anything else by Thomas Locker they can get their hands on!

In this book Thomas Locker has created a young artist, who must make the choices that will define his career. Locker uses these choice and their consequences to teach his readers a valuable lesson about success. Along with the enchanting story comes a series of pictures, the beauty of which is unrivaled in most story books today. Because of the quality both of the text and the illustrations, this is truely a book that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

Thomas Locker creates an interesting way to learn about clouds in this beautifully illustrated book. As the reader turns the pages of this book, they encounter numerous types of clouds. The first illustration shows the many different sizes and shapes clouds can assume, from the light and wispy cirrus cloud to the puffy cumulus cloud. With each turn of the page, clouds are seen in different seasons and times of day, under various weather conditions. The illustrations are eye appealing oil paintings. As you view each picture, it is like you are standing on the ground and seeing the vast sky with the clouds creating a mosaic of lights, shapes, and colors. You can almost feel the rain hitting your face when you look at the painting depicting clouds in a rain storm. The painting of the clouds that "shimmer in the moonlight" gives the reader a sense of calm. Each painting in this book causes the reader to feel some emotion--from the suppressed anger of a developing thunderstorm to the warm peace of a sunset. At the end of the book the author includes factual information about clouds. The scientific names are given for all the clouds along with a description. Answers are also given for such questions as "How are clouds formed?" and "How high does the sky reach?" This book would be a good way to introduce a science unit on clouds and weather. The illustrations would stimulate a student's imagination and could be a starting point for them to begin thinking about what clouds look like at different times and in a variety of conditions. Cloud Dance would be a valuable addition to anyone's library.

My daughter and I can't get enough of Thomas Locker's incredible artwork. His gorgeous paintings in Mare on the Hill, Gray Wolf Country, and Family Farm are museum-quality. Family Farm is a wonderful, poignant story about a family trying to keep their farm going for another season. Locker writes about what he knows, and each page is infused with emotion. Any child over the age of 6 who dreams of living in the country will love this story.

Thomas Locker's beautiful oil paintings make "Water Dance" a work of art and a wonderful way for kids to learn about the water cycle.I decided to see what's out there for kids about water and began with "Water Dance," "Where the River Begins," and "Cloud Dance," all by Locker. I fell in love with his art and . . . also bought "Sky Tree" and several others.
I just published a review of approximately 20 kids water books titled "Teaching Children about the Hydrologic Cycle." To read, go to www.ndwc.wvu.edu and click on the current issue of "On Tap," a magazine about drinking water in small communities.

"Water Dance" by Thomas Locker is one of those books you pick up because you like the look of the cover, a lake nestled amongst the hills beneath the purple sky of dusk, and then when you finish reading it you discovered it was actually teaching you something. "Water Dance" is actually about the water cycle, which starts with the rain that becomes a mountain stream that empties in a lake that is linked by a river to the sea. The cycle ends when the seawater becomes mist that forms into clouds and leads to a thunderstorm that once again brings the rain. Locker's thirteen paintings depicting the water cycle and accompanied by a poetic text describing each step of the process. In the back of the book each painting is reproduced in miniature as Candance Christiansen provides scientific information about what Locker is showing us about water. Students will find out about such things as the different types of clouds, what causes rainbows, and how the water in their bathtub might have been part of the Nile River a month earlier. "Water Dance" is a marvelous way of introducing young students to the water cycle. They will enjoy Locker's paintings even more once they learn how they all fit together to show one of the basic processes of nature. Teachers will be able to use "Water Dance" as an introduction to all sorts of science lessons.

I bought this book as a gift for my friend's son. He wanted to read over and over again for days (and it looks like this will continue for some time!) The pictures are absolutely beautiful, the poetry soothing, inspiring and educational, and this 3-year-old insists on reading the scientific explanations at the end of the book every time. I can't imagine a child (or an adult!) who wouldn't enjoy it!

The author put a lot of beautiful art in the book. He also had the writing in the middle of the page so you can read it easily. This a book for kids who love horses. It tells how the horse is frightened at first but then later she has a foal and gets closer to the people who own her.

I'm a college student now, and I first read this book years ago in elementary school. I think it's always going to stick out in my mind as one of those classics that I'll never really outgrow. I recommend it to anyone wanting a good story.

I'm in high school now, and among the thousands of books I consider my favorites, this ranks highly. A children's book it may be called, but if you open up your heart and memories, its story and illustrations (beautiful!!) will stay with you forever.