While a Tree Was Growing

About this book

Here is the story of the oldest living sequoia -- possibly the oldest living thing on earth -- whose wondrous life spans the Trojan war (it was 150 years old and 75 feet high when the Greeks delivered their gift horse) the coming of the Buddha Christ and Mohammed (by then two thousand years old over 270 feet high) the settling of America and the 1996 Presidential election. Yes its still growing high up in Californias Sierra Nevada mountains. Like a unique biological time-line While a Tree Was Growing juxtaposes the life of a single tree with a chronology of world events to narrate 3 500 years of history natural science anthropology and more. Large generously illustrated two-page spreads are flanked by columns with historic milestones on the left and a growth chart recording the trees progress on the right. Stitched into the middle of the book is a fold-out 11O x 33O poster. Illustrated by Daniel OLeary.