Because of an Acorn by Lola M. Schaefer and Adam Schaefer, illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon



Lola M. Schaefer is the author of the marvelous non-fiction picture book, Lifetime that looks at the natural world in terms of numbers. Facts like, a rattlesnake will add 40 beads to its rattle and a male seahorse will give birth to and carry 1,000 baby seahorses in one lifetime, fill this fantastic book. With Because of an Acorn, Schaefer takes a different look at the natural world, introducing readers to the concept of food chains and ecosystems, beautifully illustrated  Frann Preston-Gannon.

Because of an Acorn begins, "Because of an acorn, a tree." A cutaway on the first page that forms the cup of the acorn reveals a sprouting sapling with a page turn. This cutaway and sapling return in the final pages of the book, this time the leaf of the white oak revealing a forest with a page turn.



Schaefer's gently poetic prose takes readers through the forest, from an acorn to a tree to a bird who knocks seeds from a pod in the tree. These seeds lead to flowers, fruit and . . . a chipmunk. The chipmunk attracts a snake, but the snake attracts a hawk. Landing in a tree, the snake in its claws, the hawk causes an acorn to fall to the ground, taking the text back to the opening lines, ending with, "Because of an acorn, a forest."

With Because of an Acorn, Schaefer gives readers another marvelous visit with nature. Because of an Acorn also introduced me to a marvelous illustrator, Frann Preston-Gannon. I plan to keep my eye out for more books by the British illustrator and author in the future!

A little bit more from Frann Preston-Gannon!







Source: Review Copy



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