"These are my roots, winding and long; / they anchor and feed me and help me grow strong." The wonder of ecology is in the close-up details as an oak tree tells its story about growing tall and making connections with all kinds of creatures in nature, including spiders, ants, owls, and other plants. Branches leafy and high are a "sidewalk" for squirrels that soar. One branch cradles a nest. With the simple first-person narrative, the poetry is as much fun as the science ("Here is my track where busy ants scurry / searching for food as they march in a hurry"), and big, clear, handsome oil paintings add to the title's read-aloud appeal. The tree's important conservation role ("breathing out air for all to breathe in") will open up more pathways for discussion and sharing across the curriculum.