Giants in the Land facts for kids
Giants in the Land is a children's picture book written by Diana Appelbaum. It was illustrated by Michael McCurdy and published by Houghton Mifflin in 1993. This book tells an amazing story about giant trees.
The story focuses on very tall white pine trees. These trees were incredibly huge. They were "taller than an apartment house 25 stories high." Imagine a building with 25 floors! These giant pine trees had grown in the New England woods for thousands of years. They were a big part of the landscape.
Michael McCurdy created the pictures for the book. His illustrations are black and white. He used a special art technique called scratchboard. This method involves scratching away dark ink to reveal a white layer underneath. His detailed pictures add a lot of excitement to the story.
Awards and Recognition
Giants in the Land received many important awards and honors. These awards show that the book was highly praised by experts. It was recognized for its great story and beautiful illustrations.
Top Book Awards
- Booklist named it one of the best nonfiction books for young people.
- It was an Honor Book for the Jefferson Cup award in 1994. This award is given by the Virginia Library Association.
- The book also received "starred reviews" from major publications. These include Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus Reviews. A starred review means the book is highly recommended.
- School Library Journal called it a "Best Book."
- The Bulletin gave it a "Blue Ribbon" award.
- It was listed among the "40 Classic New England Children's Books" by Yankee Magazine.
- The American Library Association (ALA) also recognized it as a "Notable Book." This means it stood out as an excellent book for children.
