CITY LEAVES CITY TREES

Not as complete or informative as any standard guidebook, but a striking mix of photographs and photograms (""negative"" images made by placing leaves, fruit and flowers directly on sensitized paper and exposing them to light). The varieties of trees (most common to the northeast) are arranged by type of leaf, so that you can use the book as a tool for identification; however, the format encourages enjoyment of the characteristic shapes and patterns for their own sake as well. The photograms are more than silhouettes -- they show the patterns of veins in the leaves and give some idea of texture also, and the pictures of the trees themselves often show children climbing in the branches (instead of a picture of a maple two children are shown balancing maple ""keys"" on their noses). Brief instructions on how to make leaf photograms are included for budding artists.