Publisher's Synopsis
MOM'S CHOICE AWARDS(R) GOLD MEDALIST: A STORY AS AGELESS AS THE FOREVER TREES IT CELEBRATES."Suddenly Mother jumped to her feet and ran to one of the trees, a three-hundred-foot-tall redwood. ''Forever tree! Forever tree!'' she cried, smiling. She swept the skinny girl up into her arms. The child s pale skin shimmered in the golden forest light. ''Forever trees, forever trees, '' they sang, spinning in circles. The memory melted into the fog, and Eliza felt very tired. The question came again to her. It appeared out of the gray, out of the damp, out of the cold corners of this new house. The question whispered it always did the kind of whisper that sounded very loud indeed: Where had Mother gone? Shadows appeared and disappeared in Eliza's mind. Still, she couldn't remember. She simply could not remember anything after that last story in the forest. For some reason, she wasn't terribly worried. She was a little worried, for sure, but not terribly worried, because a strange calm held the shadows and the question. It held Eliza, too. Because love is forever."The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness." --John Muir-What fans are saying: "Eliza's Forever Trees is a compelling and powerful account, very highly recommended...it stands out as an exceptional tale of personal and world discoveries. Add Alex Walton's vivid drawings and you have beautiful creation of hope and color."-- Diane Donovan, Children's Editor, Midwest Book Review, Children's Bookshelf"Stephanie Lisa Tara's writing has such a perfect balance of lightness and depth; the reader sees all creatures, (even snakes) as part of a kind kingdom inhabited with their own native tongue. Her creativity gives the reader treats like French speaking squirrels and a fan favorite in her L-ladybug lingo. "Eet eez mine," the squirrel said in her French accent, which made her angry glare all the more assertive. "Oh mly," said the ladybug. "Ohhhhh mllllly," said several other ladybugs. --Mare Henderson, Teacher, Mom"I have read many children's books during my career as an Elementary School Principal. This book is in every way a fine example of the type of literature we should be reading to and with our children. I highly endorse it and hope that you enjoy is as much as I." --Barbara Glazer, Retired Principal, Mom"Eliza's Forever Trees is a rich and meaningful story, flowing with beautiful language and vivid vocabulary...sure to please nature lovers--perhaps it will even make nature lovers of those who are not." --Lee Edward Fodi, Children's Author, Illustrator"This wonderful book is a timeless tale about children and loss, the healing power of nature, how a little girl found her voice again and came to understand that love can never die." --Nathalie Fraise, Nutrition Educator, Mom''Enchanting story . . . the writing lyrical: 'She had always been here, always watching and protecting, guarding her family, as all mothers do, for mothers always come back.' '' --Ricki Lewis, Geneticist, author, mom''Some books actually become the place where they are set . . . they describe a natural environment so completely, so deeply, so succinctly, so magically, and so sweetly that this place actually comes to enchanted life...did I mention the magical quality of the writing? The author's strings of words are so tasty you will not be hungry while you read . . . each delicious spaghetti sentence is a length of truth that you can twirl up on your fork and devour quickly.'' --Brian Heffron, Filmmaker, poet, dad
