Just One Oak: What a Single Tree Can Be
Celebrating oak trees as keystone species and sustainers of a multitude of creatures from the teeny-tiny to the big and mighty. Illustrated by Diana Sudyka. Published by Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster (Spring 2026).
Reviews
“A joyous tribute to the many roles one living tree can take—from creating a microclimate to feeding and housing a wide variety of wild creatures. … Offers plenty of cause to root for this keystone species.”–Kirkus
★ “Gianferrari and Sudyka (Fungi Grow, rev. 9/23) explore the many life forms and natural processes—both visible and invisible to the naked eye—that a single oak tree ‘nurtures and nourishes.’ From feeding and sheltering wildlife above – and belowground to producing oxygen and preventing soil erosion, and beyond, the oak touches everything around it, forming a micro-ecosystem of its own. Gianferrari’s text, with its frequent alliteration, occasional rhyme, and refrain of ‘just one oak,’ constitutes an ode to the ‘beautiful and bountiful’ tree’s life-giving power.”–Horn Book Magazine starred review in March/April 2026 issue.
★”In a richly illustrated picture book that’s chock-full of ecological facts, Gianferrari (Rain and the Reading Horse) and Sudyka (Angela’s Glacier) venerate the astounding oak for its critical role as a keystone species. Employing anaphora, assonant lines highlight the many varied roles a single tree plays for a multitude of species across the seasons: ‘Just one oak…/ from the tip/ of its crown/ down to the ground,/ with roots all around,/ sustains so very/ many creatures.’ … It’s a satisfyingly comprehensive and appreciative portrait of oaks and their numerous contributions. Back matter provides further information.”–Publisher’s Weekly