Travel across time and across Salem County in "What Do You See When You Look at a Tree?" a children's book by local Salem County author, Clara Stevenson.
The story begins as fourth grader, Jordan, is given an essay question, "What Do You See When You Look at a Tree?" The reader joins Jordan as he researches this question by talking with woodcutters and visiting a carpenter's woodshop (Gary Johnson's on 22 Grant St. in Woodstown). The local saw mill Cobb's Mill, is featured on the cover. During his travels, Jordan visits the Salem Oak tree, the Old Swede's cabin, and Mood's apple orchard. He learns about the Leni-Lenape Indian history that surrounds him and about native Americans in Salem County relied on trees for shelter, implements of survival and even for transportation.
Jordan discovers a new appreciation for trees and there is an emphasis on protecting them for future generations to use and enjoy. With over 30 photographs by the artist/photographer, the book makes both a great visual and pleasure read, as well as a 70-page resource document for class room studies in earth science, local history, and cultural awareness.
Author Clara Steward Stevenson attended Peirce Business College in Philadelphia, and has been employed by the Presbyterian Board of Christian Education, the Gloucester County Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the Campbell's Soup Company. Her one true dream, long deferred, was to write. Part of the inspiration for this story came from her grandfather, who lived in Woodstown in the late eighteen hundreds, traveled to lumber camps throughout the county to contract for local lumber mills.
Mortimer, the illustrator for the current book, has been including in two other collaborations, "Osbourne the Literary Mouse" and "Osbourne's World" both devoted to the love of reading and writing and adventure. "What do you See When You Look at a Tree?" is Mortimer's first book that dominates with photography,
"Who can improve upon Mother Nature's perfection when it comes to a theme like this?" said Mortimer.
Mortimer, a Woodstown native, has a bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware and graduate credits from the University of the Arts. She is an art educator at Arthur P. Schalick High School in Pittsgrove. She is also a free lance artist during the summers. For her, the book is a perfect tribute to the legacy of woodworking that fills her family tree, back to wheelwrights from the mountain town of Montrose, Pennsylvania where her grandfather was born.
Both artist and author included their maiden names on the book credits to acknowledge their ancestor's appreciation and respect of wood's beauty and value.
Please visit www.ClaraStevenson.com for more information.