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We Planted a Tree

by Bob Staake
32p. 978-0-37586-432-2.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 4 With a synergistic mesh of lyrical language and bright, expansive illustrations, this picture book enumerating the many benefits of trees is a winner. Muldrow's poetic text shapes beauty from simple observations: "The sunshine went into the buds, /And soon they burst open./Everywhere it was pink./And we were dizzy/With springtime." As the text describes the growth of the tree and the many benefits it provides (shade, clean air, fruit, sap, and holding the soil, among others), Staake's signature modernized cartoon-style illustrations circle the globe, showing families in New York, Vermont, Japan, Kenya, France, and Italy as they enjoy what the trees have to offer. Enjoyable and informative, this beautiful presentation of a clear ecological message is perfect for sharing on Earth Day, Arbor Day, or in ecology units."Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD" Copyright 2010 Media Source Inc.
Each of two families--one in a developed, urban setting and the other in a developing, agrarian region--cultivates a tree whose rewards include better air quality and healthier soil. The global ramifications of a simple seed will be news to many young readers, who will enjoy tracking the growth of both the trees and the featured families, whose members age before readers' eyes in the crisp illustrations.

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