Watch a thousand years unfold in the life of one magnificenttree!A thousand years ago, a tiny acorn fell to theground. As the years pass, it grows . . . and GROWS into anenormous oak tree! As the centuries sweepby, children play games around the tree. Familiesdance about it. A fleeing king even hides inside its hollowtrunk!The tree gives food and shelter to a host of animals,from squirrels and badgers to birds and beetles.After a thousand years, the ancient tree finally falls in a storm- but a new acorn sprouts, and the cycle of life beginsall over again. The tree's magical life story is brought to life in JuliaDonaldson's rich, dramatic rhyme.Victoria Sandøy's gorgeous, atmospheric illustrationsperfectly capture the changing seasons, and thepeople and wildlife that pass byChildren will love spotting all the creatures in the pictures,and seeing the games children play around the treeThis is a book that encourages us all to look more closelyat nature, and to appreciate the wonder of our ancienttrees.The final pages of the book contain extra fascinatingfacts about oak trees and the animals that depend on them. Praise for The Christmas Pine, alsoby Julia Donaldson and Victoria Sandøy:"Magical . . . as well as paying tribute to tradition, thegentle rhythmic verse and stunning pictures illuminate the two otherthings close to Julia's heart: the power of children and song"Good Housekeeping Julia Donaldson is the author of many of the best-loved children'sbooks ever written.She has been awarded a CBE for services to literature, and isthe most celebrated children's writer in Britain today.Many of Julia Donaldson's beloved picture books have been madeinto award-winning animated films which are regularly shown on theBBC at Christmas.