Southcrop Forest

Delightful and timely tale for all ages

A delightful tale with a strong message. Cycles of life in the forest told in a friendly way. How every species on earth depends on another and what that means. Lorne Rothman has produced an ecological and timely tale for all ages.

The characters draw the reader in immediately. Little Fur, a colony of tent caterpillars hatched in an oak tree in Southcrop Forest, becomes the lifesaving hero of the plot, under the guidance of Auja, the oak tree. As Fur says, "I'm we" and "we're me", the colony thinks and moves as one. The forest is dying of disease and deforestation, eradicated by the "hewmen" with their giant machinery to make way for development. A lot of information is in this book and told in a form that allows us to learn about the non-human world around us through this entertaining fable.

These particular tent caterpillars are from very ancient stock called "Runes", which have not put in an appearance for 1,000 years. They have helped the forest in the past and must do so again. Replenish the soil and bring it back to its previous health so the trees can flourish again. The extent to which environment and habitat are dependent on each other to survive the toxins in the air, the changes in the weather patterns, as well as the lack of coordination with human life is demonstrated so well. There are also a number of endnotes that are very helpful.

The trees of Southcrop Forest have developed a form of communication with the Runes and with each other, a network through leaves and roots. Through this process they are able to direct the Runes to the "Southcrop Farm" where they will be given what is needed to take to the most important Forest at Dark Sky, giving the Runes the necessary information to bring back the balance and future of the devastated forests around them. The concept of the story and the flow of information through dialogue is wonderful and at the same time very insightful. 5 stars

A charming way to educate children on the environment

In "Southcrop Forest", we enter into a magical mythical place in which the trees can feel, see, sense, and talk. In this amazing place we meet the lovable, adorable young oak tree by the name of Auja. Like her other friends of the forest, she is worried that the Hewmen will destroy their home in Southcrop. Then one spring day as she was taking the yearly census of the many animals that call her branches home she happened upon a remarkable sight. Auja discovered that the colony of caterpillars were no ordinary colony but the long forgotten legendary Runes. The trees of Southcrop decide that they must enlist Furs help to save their home. Auja then has to convince Fur to leave the safety of her branches and carry the gems of the forest to the far away Riverside Farm. Starting out with a colony of over 250 crawlers Fur must engage in the fight of his life. Connected to Auja and the other trees of Southcrop by what is known as Southcrop vision, Fur embarks on the long and dangerous journey. Losing crawlers along the way to the elements, predators, and Hewmen Fur finally crosses the Hewmens bridge. Now with only a colony of 18 he has finally completed his promise to Auja. Fur and his colony can now finally spin their cocoons.


Lorne Rothman has created a brilliant novel that sheds a new light on the plight of forest devastation. Writing "Southcrop Forest" for a young set of readers Rothman is sure to entertain and educate. "Southcrop Forest" is a book that should be read by all school age children and adults alike. With lyrical content and an in-depth conclusion of notes by the author one cannot go wrong with reading "Southcrop Forest".

No text was provided for this review.