Be a Tree!

　　在我們生活環境中，樹是一個平凡而重要的存在。但你有沒有發現，其實我們像極了樹。從脊椎、軀幹，到皮膚、表皮。心臟給予我們力量，幫助我們生存，像心材一樣。我們也從水和太陽中吸收能量。

　　更神奇的是，樹也像人類一樣具有社會性。它們會「交談」、傳播資訊，也會分享養分和資源。它們會互相保護、彼此照顧。樹的美以及歷經滄桑的優雅都教人讚嘆。

　　本書作者是從小愛樹的瑪莉亞．姜弗勒里，以她對樹的研究，創作了這篇優雅的文字，告訴我們從樹的身上，我們能學到更多。如果我們待人處事都像森林中的樹，懂得保護彼此，不分族群、共享資源，這個世界一定會變得更加美好！

　　本書的插圖是由獲大獎肯定、畫風深受喜愛的繪者費里希妲．薩拉創作，奔放的筆觸、各種不同角度的構圖，創造出這本美麗且詩意的作品，歌頌大自然中最偉大的創造物。

　　藉由這本繪本，不僅讓讀者從人們身上看到樹的美與雄偉，同時也帶著我們，向樹學習，一起成為更好的人。


＊ 中文書介摘錄自《成為一棵樹》，聯經出版

Be a Tree! is a lyrical, gorgeously illustrated look at the majesty of trees--and what humans can learn from them.

Stand tall.
Stretch your branches to the sun.
Be a tree!

We are all like trees: our spines, trunks; our skin, bark; our hearts giving us strength and support, like heartwood. We are fueled by air and sun.

And, like humans, trees are social. They ＂talk＂ to spread information; they share food and resources. They shelter and take care of one another. They are stronger together.

In this gorgeous and poetic celebration of one of nature’s greatest creations, acclaimed author Maria Gianferrari and illustrator Felicita Sala both compare us to the beauty and majesty of trees--and gently share the ways in which trees can inspire us to be better people.

＂By foregrounding living beings that exemplify grace, strength, and endurance, Gianferrari gives readers a new way to think about their individual and collective existences.＂ --Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

Maria Gianferrari has always loved trees. She has climbed fig trees in Italy, stood under stately coastal redwoods and twisted Torrey pines, and marveled at mitten-shaped sassafras leaves, colorful coral trees, and sawtooth oak acorn nests. She lives with her family in a house encircled by trees, one of which is a spruce planted in memory of her beloved dog, Becca. This is her first book with Abrams. Felicita Sala is a self-taught illustrator. She has illustrated several picture books, including the award-winning She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lynn Fulton, and The Hideout by Susanna Mattiangeli, as well as her own book of recipes for children, What’s Cooking at 10 Garden Street? She grew up between Italy and Australia and now lives in Rome with her family.