"A fascinating, even glorious celebration of nature that will stir both children and adults to a finer appreciation of a wondrous, surprising world that's right within their grasp." --Booklist (starred review)

In this stunning book by Thomas Locker, exquisite paintings are paired with questions about nature, making science comes alive through art. A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year!

In spring, a snapping turtle lays her eggs on the hillside beneath the tree. In autumn, leaves fall as squirrels scamper up the trunk carrying nuts. And on a winter night, a backdrop of twinkling stars shines through the branches. Each day, the tree changes with the purple and pink of a sunset or a nip of cold air. But the tree is more than a thing of beauty--its changes represent the passage of time in nature.

Sky Tree combines the artistic beauty and the scientific wonder of ever-changing nature into a satisfying experience for the soul and the mind.

Each page poses a discussion question, and at the back of the book is an explanation of how Thomas Locker created each beautiful oil painting.

In spring, a snapping turtle lays her eggs on the hillside beneath the tree. In autumn, leaves fall as squirrels scamper up the trunk carrying nuts. And on a winter night, a backdrop of twinkling stars shines through the branches. Each day, the tree changes with the purple and pink of a sunset or a nip of cold air. But the tree is more than a thing of beauty--its changes represent the passage of time in nature. In this stunning book by Thomas Locker, who was seven years old when he won his first award for a painting of a tree that still stands in the National Zoo, exquisite paintings and wondrous text are paired with questions about nature, and science comes alive through art.