The fourth and final entry in Barbara Bash's Tree Tales series - the other titles are: Desert Giant: The World of the Saguaro Cactus, Tree of Life: The World of the African Baobab and Ancient Ones: The World of the Old-Growth Douglas Fir - this beautifully illustrated picture-book introduces young readers to the banyan tree, highlighting its central importance in an Indian village, as well as its role in providing food and shelter for a variety of animal species. Often mistaken for a small forest - single banyan trees can spread out over large areas, with roots growing down from their branches, until they reach the ground, and eventually become secondary trunks - the banyan provides a meeting place for nearby villagers, with the market and the school both being held beneath its branches. Its foliage, in the meantime, offers a nesting place to egrets, and its branches a playground for both human children and langur monkeys.

I enjoyed this picture-book examination of the world of the Indian banyan tree just as much as I did Bash's first three arboreal explorations, although I think the emphasis here was much more on human interaction, than in previous titles. Perhaps this makes sense, as the banyan tree is generally to be found much closer to human settlements, than the other trees profiled? In any case, I found the text informative, and the artwork very appealing, with its rich color palette, and accurate depiction of flora and fauna. Definitely another winner from Barbara Bash! ( )