  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 09/01/2009 PreS-Gr 2— In rhyming couplets, an old oak introduces children to the wildlife that lives and feeds in and around it ("I'm a tree, a busy tree.../come and see"). In its branches and on its trunk are ants, a spider on a web, a downy woodpecker, an owl, squirrels, baby robins in a nest, a moth's cocoon—even children on a swing—while chipmunks and a tiny mole live and eat beneath. The large oak describes its roots ("winding and long;/they anchor and feed me and help me grow strong"), leaves ("...breathing out air for all to breathe in"), and boughs ("…that creak, bend, and sway/shading the children below as they play"). Handsome realistic oil paintings set on white pages show details of the tree and its denizens in daytime, at sunset, and at night, in fall and in summer. Observant eyes will notice grubs burrowed underground, new leaf buds, and a tiny ladybug nestled on a leaf. The cycle of new life and growth is demonstrated as the youngsters collect and plant an acorn that grows into another large tree "as seasons pass by." Children will enjoy this brief glimpse at a familiar species that reinforces much that they have already observed.—Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH - Copyright 2009 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 09/01/2009 “These are my roots, winding and long; / they anchor and feed me and help me grow strong.” The wonder of ecology is in the close-up details as an oak tree tells its story about growing tall and making connections with all kinds of creatures in nature, including spiders, ants, owls, and other plants. Branches leafy and high are a “sidewalk” for squirrels that soar. One branch cradles a nest. With the simple first-person narrative, the poetry is as much fun as the science (“Here is my track where busy ants scurry / searching for food as they march in a hurry”), and big, clear, handsome oil paintings add to the title’s read-aloud appeal. The tree’s important conservation role (“breathing out air for all to breathe in”) will open up more pathways for discussion and sharing across the curriculum. - Copyright 2009 Booklist. Loading...
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