Something Wonderful is a picture book about the life cycle of a fig tree. The book is written by a botany professor so is full of facts about the fig tree but in the context of a story. The book starts with a seed falling from the sky about a rainforest canopy. The seed nestles in the nook of a tree and germinates eventually becoming a fig tree.

The illustrations were very well done and there was the added fun of trying to spot the tree frog hidden in the pictures. I read this to my 6 year old and he stayed interested throughout though I did have to explain a few words to him.

There are plenty of picture books that introduce youngsters to the wonder of a seed growing. Usually these books focus on something as simple as a flower. Ritter's book, on the other hand, shows us something that most adults will be forced to admit is truly amazing. Starting with the moment that the fig seed lands in the branches of another tree and sends it's roots down to the ground. We see the whole process - the fig tree growing around and through the other tree, killing it; the leaves reaching the canopy and producing blossoms; those blossoms being pollinated by wasps and forming fruits around the wasp eggs; the fruits being eaten and the seeds spread by birds to start the process all over again. Even if much of the process is what we expect, that first stage of the roots growing down to the ground is truly wonderful.

In his book “Something Wonderful,” Matt Ritter narrates a beautiful story about a fig tree in a tropical rainforest. Starting as a tiny seed, it eventually develops into a magnificent tree. With the assistance of a group of wasps and a chestnut-mandibled toucan, it then proceeds to produce more fig trees. This cycle of life and death maintains the perpetuity of the forest.
The illustrations by Nayl Gonzalez do more than providing a mere backdrop to the story. The readers feel they are present in the scene, witnessing the life cycle of the fig tree and the wasps. The extremely detailed pictures tell many stories, should you be observant enough to perceive them. I do not want to spoil anything for the prospective readers, but keep an eye out for the frog, will you? In addition to the aesthetic beauty, I was amazed by the way Gonzalez scales the pictures up or down. This provides a magnified view or a birds’ eye view, as required.
The topic of the book represents a textbook example of mutualism that renders the fig tree and the wasp partners for life. Incredibly, Ritter could describe this ninety-million-years-old phenomenon in a way that would appeal to children and teenagers, not to mention the adults. This book will enlighten the readers about the intricately entwined life stories and interdependence of different life-forms. The glimpses of biodiversity in a tropical rainforest will not only educate them but also help them appreciate the natural resources our earth so generously provides.
Children of the age group of 8 to 12 years will be able to read this work on their own. Additionally, the parents might consider reading the book aloud to younger children. However, adults will also enjoy the book, especially if they are interested in the biological world. This book is, true to its title, something wonderful.

This particular book explores thes cycle of a fig seed and the animals that help to disperse it within their ecosystem.

The writing is quite brief and simplistic but still fascinating us to keep the reader's attention. And anytime there is a major change it is announced by the titular words, which are also printed in a completely different font and style.

The illustrations are a bit muted for a tropical jungle scene, which is a bit disappointing when compared to some other stories about the jungle. Furthermore since the book is only focusing on one species and its supportive cast the rest of the unique fauna of the jungle is also missing. But to give it a nice complete feel, though, the book hides a red-eyed tree frog on most of the pages that was kind of fun to look out for even though in some pictures you could just see the toes.

At the end of the book the reader gets a more detailed cycle of the fig wasp and the fig fruit. Plus there are in-depth looks at the toucan and the frog.

This is one book that I would definitely recommend, especially for science classes and home-schools needing some good science books.

***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review***

Something Wonderful is a very wonderfully illustrated book. (see what I did there?)

The narrative is shown off through the bright vibrant greens, the hundreds of lines detailing the bark and leaves of every tree and branch, and the detailed drawings of the toucan, frog, and wasps. The simple wording allows for a younger kid to enjoy this, while an older kid will take interest in the cycle of life at works. Even adults will learn something about the rain forest they've never known before.

All-in-all, there's something in here for everyone, and it was an overall pleasure to read.

This was a simple story about the life cycle of a fig tree. I really enjoyed the premise because I think it's interesting and I think the execution was good as well. I think this story will hopefully help inspire children to learn more about nature. The illustrations were beautiful and I especially enjoyed trying to find the frog on every page.

Something Wonderful was such an exciting and educational book! I really liked the story and the illustrations are beautiful. It's a great learning experience about pollination and how planet earth works. I definitely loved that it was an adventure through the rainforest! I think this is a great educational book for kids and they will enjoy it!

Something Wonderful by Matt Ritter is a lovely educational book for children. There is so much information here, from how plants are pollinated and germinate, to how ecosystems depend on even it's smallest members for wonderful things to happen.
The illustrations are beautiful and the pages all have a tree frog hidden in the pictures- something little ones will love going back to hunt for. They'll also learn about the frog and a number of other animals and plants mentioned in the book in a fun way.
Many thanks to Pacific Street Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Something Wonderful, written by Matt Ritter and illustrated by Nayl Gonzalez, is a children's nonfiction picturebook that is currently scheduled for release on April 22 2020.

This educational and interactive picture book immerses the reader in the strange and interwoven lifecycles of a tropical fig tree in the rainforest, and the tiny insects and colorful creatures that call it home. The delectable fig fruit is hungrily eaten by a passing toucan who, upon flight, aimlessly drops a seed from its poop into the treetops below, beginning the fig’s lifecycle once again. Discover additional scientific information about the pollination process, insects, and animals found in the story in an illustrated section at the end of the book. Readers can play a “seek and find” game of locating the elusive red-eyed tree frog on each page of the story. Take a journey, from the tiny to the grandiose, while making your way through the tropical rainforest on the path to uncover Something Wonderful…

Something Wonderful is a picturebook that informs and entertains. The life cycle of the fig is odd, and while I knew bits of it, which honestly has me less than eager to actually eat a fig, but I learned much more here. I liked the balance of text on each page, and the information was interesting and well worded. I appreciated the artwork, and thought that the book is worth a look just for the images in the book. I liked the hunt for the tree frog on each page, it adds a layer of inter-activeness that will keep readers interested and engaged. I think this book will appeal to a number of readers, would be a good addition to libraries and classrooms as well as personal collections.

Something Wonderful such an apt title for this wonderful book by Matt Ritter. This engaging tale tells the story of a rainforest fig tree and the creatures that call it home. This book gently teaches children about ecological independence and lifecycles. The illustrations are wonderful. This book would act as a fantastic starting point for class discussions on the important of protecting forests and wildlife. While the challenge of finding a frog on every page is sure to keep younger children engaged.This would make a wonderful addition to any classroom, or child’s bookshelf.

I love this informative picture book and my students will too! The beautifully illustrated pages bring to life a tranquil rainforest, and the simple text explains the life cycle of a fig tree in a way that's perfect for little learners.
Kids will absolutely love spotting the tree frog hidden on every page while they hear the story! He is well hidden too, so it can be a challenge for all the family!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

An informative look at the life cycle of fig trees and the role other animals and insects play in maintaining this cycle. The information is presented in a simple way that is easy to understand, which is perhaps the best way to learn new things.

The book is visually appealing. Its illustrations by Nayl Gonzalez are detailed, the colours are lush, and the font matches the overall tone set by the art and the content. That sneaky tree frog that turns up in every page is a fun bit that would probably be great at attracting the attention of young readers (though older readers might enjoy it all the same).

A book to pick up when you're in for learning something new (and if you want to gaze at the great illustrations).

Out of all the copious food chains in the rainforests of South America I was a little surprised to see this book pick this one, but it is extraordinary, and doesn't involve any animals being eaten. A tree does die, however, as it gets strangled by above-ground fig tree roots. The fig tree produces figs, which attract fig wasps, which have their own life cycle inside the fruit, long before it gets eaten by a fig-eating bird that comes along to start the chain off anew. The text is quite gentle and poetic, ambling through the wonders of the title in quietly scholarly fashion, before the true science almost comes to bludgeon us in comparison at the end. The young eye is never really shown the interconnectedness of things beyond this chain, which might be a missed opportunity, but is guided around the page in search of a tree frog in every scene, and any tutor at whom this is targeted should be able to convey that there are endless such cycles in such invaluably rich landscapes. A success.

This picture book was absolutely gorgeous. All of the artwork is so detailed and amazing to look at. I could spend hours just flipping through looking at the pictures. That being said, the actual story in this book was not my favorite. I actually kind of wish that I didn't know some of the things about how figs grow. But there is totally an audience of young people out there who would love this book, it just wasn't for me. I really enjoyed the extras in the back and the game of finding the frog on each page. This was, overall, a really cute book and I look forward to reading books from this author and illustrator again.

My son and I really adored this "wonderful" book. He is already quite interested in trees, and this was an informative look at the life cycle of a fig tree that he could understand and appreciate. We felt as though we had taken a journey into nature together, and we loved finding the frog throughout. Plus, the illustrations are truly beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pacific Street Publishing for providing this ARC.

This book was beautifully illustrated and packed with lovely colors making it visually appealing for any reader! I adored how this book covered several different topics, like life cycles, biodiversity, and habitat. This book is probably more suitable for advanced readers, but the "Find Me" frog makes it great for any age. I especially love how the different species are talked about at the end of the book!

This was actually a topic I covered in college, and I think this book simplifies it enough for any age to understand and become engaged with it.

It was an informative and beautifully illustrated book. Kids would love this book, as it is informative yet simple. I loved the little game in the book, it helps the reader get more engaged with the illustrations and spot the details. Also i learnt new things from this book as an adult, it sure will teach even more to a child reading it. I recommend this book to all children who are fascinated by nature and ecosystem.

This was fun!

In this picture book, the life cycle of the fig tree is explained, from a seed landing on a tree onwards till we arrive, again, at a fig seed landing on a tree. The detailed pictures are stunning and fun to look at. There even is a game hidden in this book: Can you find the frog on every page?

At the end of the book there is a short section with the scientific names of the species and a short text relating the most important facts, without a story.
I already knew all of this, but was entertained nonetheless and I'd recommend this for both adults and children alike. I'd have loved this as a child, as the rainforest was to me like an enchanted forest in which all seasons happen at the same time.

I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received a review copy from the publisher via Netgalley.

This picture book is absolutely lovely. It explains the life cycle of fig trees in the tropics and how other animals contribute to the life of figs and how figs, in turn, help them as a food source. I was especially intrigued by the wasps. A female wasp covered in pollen and carrying eggs, enters an unripe fig fruit. There, she lays eggs and dies. The male wasps fertilize the female wasps who are still in their eggs and then chew holes out of the fruit, dying inside the fruit without ever leaving. The female wasps then collect pollen, eat as much as they can, and then fly out of the fig to find a new unripe fig, beginning the cycle anew.
It was also interesting to see how fig seeds can grow into existing trees and ultimately outgrow and kill them, even gigantic ones.

The pictures were simple but cute and effective. And I really like how the illustrator made a little hide and seek game with the frog, drawing your attention carefuly but subtle to the frog. You instantly get that he's playing a game with you and you start searching for the frog on every page.

All in all, a wonderful and fun read. Perfect for kids and adults.

Name: Something Wonderful
Author: Matt Ritter
Illustrator: Nayl Gonzalez
Genre: Children Fiction
Source: Netgalley
Summary:
The story is about the life of a fig seed which fell on a giant tree and how it replaced the giant tree, grew big, reproduced and again its seeds fell on a giant tropical tree. And a wonderful life again bloomed.
My Opinion.: It has beautiful illustrations. I really like the background art because it gave me manga kind of vibes (even though it is very different). The story was rather simple, I would say this book is for a much younger age group. I liked the fact that the book was quite informative and would encourage people to know more about nature.