Rare Trees: The Fascinating Stories of the World’s Most Threatened Species by Sara Oldfield and Malin Rivers is truly a fascinating book. The first section discusses conservation and different ecosystems trees survive in. The photos are phenomenal and I like how the book was laid out; it makes it a lot more interesting than reading a textbook.

Then the books shifts to trees and their uses. This section was probably my favorite. Some items I was aware that came from trees, but it was learning where and how they retrieved these items that was entertaining.

The final section looks at specific species around the world. There are detailed sections discussing the species.

When I first requested this book, I didn’t realize the number of pages. I thought it would more about just the conservation of trees, but then I reached the breakdown of species and realized this book was a lot more in-depth than I first thought. I enjoyed learning about the threats to certain species, but was thinking this book is not so much for casual reading (maybe for some yes, but not for me from start to finish). It seems more for research purposes or specific look ups.

Thanks Netgalley and Timber Press for this ARC. This might be a good consideration for our nonfiction section. Especially with the current push for sustainable development goals and since our school is in China, many of these trees are in the region.

What if I told you there was a way to reverse climate change, clean our air, create homes for endangered animals and beautify our planet all contained in one package? Trees are the lungs of our planet, and yet we’re cutting them down left and right, paving over forests to make way for roads or clearing them for pasture. Oldfield looks specifically at 60 of the most endangered species of trees on our planet, capturing their plight in words and beautiful photographs. A gorgeous, vitally important book