I very occasionally buy multiple copies of a book after reading, to distribute to those whom I think might actually read it. They are the perfect gifts, often appreciated, and rarely ignored. It has to be the the right book. This is one of them. Any person who reads "The Hidden Life of Trees" will never walk through a forest again -or even a city park- and not look with new eyes at trees. Wohlleben reveals their secrets, the vibrant social life they share, their connection to each other on a level we never dreamed could be real. Forests are not merely neutral backdrops for the animals which live within them. They are complex ecosystems, their roots - and the organisms that join their roots- intermingling in ways almost beyond belief. Trees help each other to survive, even trees of different species. This is just one of the gems that the author delivers in a very readable and accessible story. Read this book, and read it to your children.