Maxine's Tree

On weekends, five-year-old Maxine and her family leave the city to visit the Carmanah Valley on the west coast of Vancouver Island. There they build trails, helping to clear a path through the ancient rainforest where some of the world's tallest and oldest trees grow. Eventually one of the old trees, an enormous sitka spruce, becomes Maxine's special hideaway. One day, through a clearing in the trail, Maxine sights a nearby mountain which has been logged and abandoned. For the first time she realizes that her forest and her special tree may also be threatened by the logger's chainsaw. Fearful for the safety of her rainforest playground, Maxine sets out to find a way to save her tree. Her unique solution is as simple as it is effective and has some startling results. Maxine's Tree will convince children and parents alike that one person, no matter how small, can indeed make a difference. A charming story with characters as real as the magnificent timber of the Carmanah Valley, Maxine's Tree addresses an issue that is both universal and timely. Diane LÈger's text gently introduces children to the theme that old growth forests are fragile ecosystems. Dar Churcher's color illustrations beautifully evoke a child's-eye view of the forest.