Jason Chin » Redwoods

Fluctuating Fog Levels on the California Coast

Jason Chin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:40:29 +0000

A new study finds fluctuating levels of fog on the California coast which could have an adverse affect on coast redwoods. The study, conducted by biologist James Johnstone from U.C. Berkley, suggests that there has been a 30% decline in fog frequency along the coast in the past over the last century. Redwoods rely on fog in the dry summer months to retain moisture. When the fog rolls in, moisture condenses on the trees’ needles and falls to the ground to be soaked up by the trees’ roots. But not only do they make their own rain, recent research has found that redwoods also absorb moisture through the needles themselves. Over the course of one year, 30% to 40% of a redwoods total water intake is fog dependent, which is why this research has redwood enthusiasts worried. The study appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Read more about the study on npr.org

Read the full study at pnas.org

National Science Teachers Association Redwoods Review

Jason Chin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:30:55 +0000

The National Science Teacher’s Association has given Redwoods a great review, saying:

“…this book [is] one that you will want to read over and over again. The adventure is beautifully depicted by illustrations that will leave readers in awe…”

and

“The book’s content, graphics, and unique presentation earned it a place as one of the NSTA/CBC Outstanding Science Trade Books for 2010″

It’s great to get such a strong endorsement from the experts! You can read the full review on the NSTA website:

http://www.nsta.org/recommends/ViewProduct.aspx?ProductID=19803

New York Transit Museum Event

Jason Chin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:52:49 +0000

Reading to the crowd inside the subway car

This past weekend I presented Redwoods at the New York Transit Museum. The Transit Museum’s main attraction is their collection of old subway cars (which are really cool) and I got to read the book to a crowd of parents and children in one of them.

Drawing dinosaur-land!

After the reading, we did an art project. In Redwoods, the main character’s world changes outside the subway car window as he reads the book. For our art project the children suggested ideas for things that they might see outside a subway car window (imaginary, of course) and I drew their ideas to a piece of paper taped over the subway window. On our trip, we went to dinosaur-land. There were volcanoes, a stegasaurus, palm trees, the requisite T-Rex and a time-traveling robot. Thanks to the Transit Museum and everyone who attended–I had a great time!

You can see more pictures of the event on the Transit Museum’s Flickr Album.

Redwoods an ALA Notable Book

Jason Chin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:13:36 +0000

Redwoods made this year’s American Library Association Notable Book list! Here’s a description of the notable book criteria from the ALA website:

Each year a committee of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) identifies the best of the best in children’s books. According to the Notables Criteria, “notable” is defined as: Worthy of note or notice, important, distinguished, outstanding. As applied to children’s books, notable should be thought to include books of especially commendable quality, books that exhibit venturesome creativity, and books of fiction, information, poetry and pictures for all age levels (birth through age 14) that reflect and encourage children’s interests in exemplary ways.

Redwoods as Carbon Banks

Jason Chin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:14:42 +0000

A pioneering group of Californians is trying to turn forests that include redwoods into “Carbon Banks” according to NPR’s Morning Edition in a report filed this past November. The Conservation Fund’s goal is to manage their forests in such a way that they increase the amount of carbon the forests absorb and retain. According to the report, it seems to be working:

The Conservation Fund calculates that over two years, its forest has soaked up an extra 350,000 tons of carbon. That’s roughly equivalent to taking 80,000 cars off the road for a year.

Turning forests into “carbon banks” may be an economically viable proposition. With the prospect of a climate change bill being passed this year, a carbon marketplace (where “carbon credits” can be traded) is looking very possible. When those regulations are in place, forests will have economic value beyond the price of their timber, and that’s what the Conservation Fund is banking on.

Listen to the full report on NPR.org

Redwoods on the Horn Book’s 2009 Fanfare list.

Jason Chin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:13:10 +0000

The Horn Book has released it’s 2009 Fanfare titles–their selections for the best books of the year, and Redwoods made the cut! Here’s their review and a link to the full list. What an honor to be included with such esteemed company!

In Jason Chin’s Redwoods, a straightforward and informative text about coastal redwoods captions pictures that tell not exactly a different story, but one whose metafictional cheek will draw readers in — just as the book’s hero is drawn, by his imagination, high into the redwood canopy. Science and story are seamlessly pulled together in neatly crafted paintings. (6–9 years)

See the full list on the Horn Book website.

Washington Post: Redwoods One of the Best Kid’s Books of the Year

Jason Chin — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:32:38 +0000

The Washington Post named Redwoods to it’s list of the best children’s books of 2009. Visit the the full list, or go directly to their review of Redwoods.

Redwoods Featured in the LA Times

Jason Chin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:10:59 +0000

Redwoods was featured in the LA Times in an article about green children’s books titled Saving the Planet, One Book at a Time. The article, by Sonja Bolle, highlights the increasing number of children’s books that have an environmental theme.

Win a Signed Redwoods Print!

Jason Chin — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:12:25 +0000

The Green Guide For Kids is having an art contest, and the winner will be given a signed Redwoods print! It’s easy to enter, just send a picture of something having to do with the environment to address on their site, and the winner will be selected at random on January 1st. Visit The Green Guide for Kids for more details and GOOD LUCK!

Redwood Researchers

Jason Chin — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:46:57 +0000

Researcher in the redwood forest canopy

When developing my paintings for Redwoods, I relied heavily on photographs taken by Steve Sillett and his team of researchers. Mr. Sillett is a leading researcher of tall trees and the environments that they create. His groundbreaking research was described in the wonderful book by Richard Preston, The Wild Trees. Climbing tall trees is very dangerous, and since I do not possess the necessary skills to see the canopy for myself, I owe a debt to the wealth of photos published on Humboldt State University’s Institute for Redwood Ecology website. I strongly recommend you check them out — they are unbelievable!