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Books for a Better Earth
A Tree Is a Community
One tree supports an ecosystem of life–insects, mammals, and even humans. Discover the surprising biodiversity of trees in this science picture book from award-winning creators of
And the Bullfrogs Sing
and
The Dirt Book.
A tree is more than just a plant, but a whole ecosystem hiding in plain sight, on street corners and in backyards everywhere. Discover how one tree provides shelter, food, and clean air to a host of animals and insects. Robins build their nest in the branches and bees gather nectar from flowers. The tree keeps its neighborhood clean, healthy, and safe. Leaves clean the air and roots keep the dirt from washing away. The tree’s residents are safe through thunderstorms and changing seasons. This home is built to last!
Those buds POP open
and bees BUZZ
and rain SPLASHES
and sun SIZZLES
Author David L. Harrison’s lively, rhythmic text informs and excites readers about the ecosystem of trees. Illustrator Kate Cosgrove’s lush and dynamic illustrations color a charming world aglow with life. This award-winning team, from And the Bullfrogs Sing and The Dirt Book, are back with another picture book that invites young readers into the natural world around them. A Tree Is a Community is perfect for the budding naturalist.
The Books for a Better Earth™ collection is designed to inspire young people to become active, knowledgeable participants in caring for the planet they live on. Focusing on solutions to climate change challenges and human environmental impacts, the collection looks at how scientists, activists, and young leaders are working to safeguard Earth’s future.
A tree is more than just a plant, but a whole ecosystem hiding in plain sight, on street corners and in backyards everywhere. Discover how one tree provides shelter, food, and clean air to a host of animals and insects. Robins build their nest in the branches and bees gather nectar from flowers. The tree keeps its neighborhood clean, healthy, and safe. Leaves clean the air and roots keep the dirt from washing away. The tree’s residents are safe through thunderstorms and changing seasons. This home is built to last!
Those buds POP open
and bees BUZZ
and rain SPLASHES
and sun SIZZLES
Author David L. Harrison’s lively, rhythmic text informs and excites readers about the ecosystem of trees. Illustrator Kate Cosgrove’s lush and dynamic illustrations color a charming world aglow with life. This award-winning team, from And the Bullfrogs Sing and The Dirt Book, are back with another picture book that invites young readers into the natural world around them. A Tree Is a Community is perfect for the budding naturalist.
The Books for a Better Earth™ collection is designed to inspire young people to become active, knowledgeable participants in caring for the planet they live on. Focusing on solutions to climate change challenges and human environmental impacts, the collection looks at how scientists, activists, and young leaders are working to safeguard Earth’s future.
Kindle Edition
Published October 8, 2024
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 23, 2024
I'm so happy that David L Harrison joined up with Kate Cosgrove again. I love David's words and Kate's art. I laughed when I read,
"The air and ground
warm up, and
the rain
SHOUTS,
“Wake up,
you lazy roots!”
Kids will love that.
"And robins
look like
they’ve FLOWN
to the twig store
and the mud store,
TOTED back supplies
to build
their fancy nests."
I love the idea of a child envisioning Robins going to the store to get building materials for their homes. When parents get to this page, they can construct a fun conversation with their children.
"And ants?
Oh my!
Those ants
DASH
like they’re running
across a
hot skillet!"
Kate's illustration shows the lizard crouched low on a limb, waiting for the opportunity to make a few ants a tasty treat. The illustration goes perfectly with the end of the poem below.
"And lizards
CROUCH
and wait
till something
tasty
mistakes by too close."
I love what David wrote at the end of the book and want to share it with you. Life passes in the blink of an eye. I thought everyone would appreciate what David wrote and take the opportunity to take a page from his book.
"WE AND THE TREE
Trees are among the most important living things on Earth. Some of the reasons are easy to see. Their shade cools us on hot days. Their leaves help keep rain off our heads.
They provide shelter and food for all sorts of animals. We cut up dead trees to burn in our fireplace on cold winter nights. We build our houses with lumber from trees. But trees also help us in ways we cannot see. They remove from the air a chemical known as carbon dioxide, which is the leading cause of global warming. While doing that, trees give off oxygen, another important chemical. We and nearly every other kind of animal on Earth must have oxygen to breathe.
"I have a hackberry tree in my backyard. I watch it every day, look for beetles and ants on its bark and birds in its branches. I watch its leaves fall off in Fall, and new ones grow in Spring. I call it my tree, and I love it. I’ve taken its picture and written a poem about it. You can have your own tree too, in your yard, in a park, down the street. I think trees love it when we love them."
I am sure this beautiful book will inspire young readers to view trees in a new light. Teachers will want to use this book to point out how there is more to a poem than rhyme. There can be a rhythm, a cadence, a bounce, and a shape to a poem that can tell a story without rhyme. Teachers could plan a whole lesson on how to pluck out lyrical words that make poems sing. David tells an entire story using a few words - interesting words that take the reader from the beginning of spring to the summer, through the fall, into the winter, and back to spring. Many children will be calmed by this journey, knowing that life changes but continues, and as humans, we should take the time like David does with his favorite tree in his yard and enjoy all those free wonders around us.
David and Kate are a great team. Don't miss this book!
"The air and ground
warm up, and
the rain
SHOUTS,
“Wake up,
you lazy roots!”
Kids will love that.
"And robins
look like
they’ve FLOWN
to the twig store
and the mud store,
TOTED back supplies
to build
their fancy nests."
I love the idea of a child envisioning Robins going to the store to get building materials for their homes. When parents get to this page, they can construct a fun conversation with their children.
"And ants?
Oh my!
Those ants
DASH
like they’re running
across a
hot skillet!"
Kate's illustration shows the lizard crouched low on a limb, waiting for the opportunity to make a few ants a tasty treat. The illustration goes perfectly with the end of the poem below.
"And lizards
CROUCH
and wait
till something
tasty
mistakes by too close."
I love what David wrote at the end of the book and want to share it with you. Life passes in the blink of an eye. I thought everyone would appreciate what David wrote and take the opportunity to take a page from his book.
"WE AND THE TREE
Trees are among the most important living things on Earth. Some of the reasons are easy to see. Their shade cools us on hot days. Their leaves help keep rain off our heads.
They provide shelter and food for all sorts of animals. We cut up dead trees to burn in our fireplace on cold winter nights. We build our houses with lumber from trees. But trees also help us in ways we cannot see. They remove from the air a chemical known as carbon dioxide, which is the leading cause of global warming. While doing that, trees give off oxygen, another important chemical. We and nearly every other kind of animal on Earth must have oxygen to breathe.
"I have a hackberry tree in my backyard. I watch it every day, look for beetles and ants on its bark and birds in its branches. I watch its leaves fall off in Fall, and new ones grow in Spring. I call it my tree, and I love it. I’ve taken its picture and written a poem about it. You can have your own tree too, in your yard, in a park, down the street. I think trees love it when we love them."
I am sure this beautiful book will inspire young readers to view trees in a new light. Teachers will want to use this book to point out how there is more to a poem than rhyme. There can be a rhythm, a cadence, a bounce, and a shape to a poem that can tell a story without rhyme. Teachers could plan a whole lesson on how to pluck out lyrical words that make poems sing. David tells an entire story using a few words - interesting words that take the reader from the beginning of spring to the summer, through the fall, into the winter, and back to spring. Many children will be calmed by this journey, knowing that life changes but continues, and as humans, we should take the time like David does with his favorite tree in his yard and enjoy all those free wonders around us.
David and Kate are a great team. Don't miss this book!
November 11, 2024
Trees and the organisms they support through all four seasons are celebrated in this gorgeous poetry book! Each page has only one or two sentences that detail the ways that trees interact with weather, other forms of life, and humans. Action words are capitalized (roars, shouts, dazzle, toted, flapping) throughout the book to emphasize the ways that trees are active in nature. The passion and excitement of the author’s reverence for trees is evident throughout the text, which is punctuated with exclamation points as well as exclamatory phrases like “Oh yes!” and “for sure!” Metaphors are fun, inventive, and plentiful: “leaves UNFOLD like a new dress,” “Buds DAZZLE on tips of bony twigs like fancy store-bought rings.” The text is accompanied by pencil-drawn illustrations that depict two young brown-skinned children, birds, ants, mushrooms, bugs of all sorts, bees, lizards, squirrels, opossums, and racoons as well as trees in every season. This book is an absolute treasure and belongs in every library that serves young children. Add it to your annual read aloud list; kids are going to love it and it’s sure to spark discussions about why we should value and protect trees. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
The Books for a Better Earth series is well worth the investment for all elementary and public libraries! I have reviewed several of the series titles for this blog and have been very impressed with the content and quality.
Backmatter includes a personal (passionate!) note from the author about the ways trees help us and his own relationship with his favorite tree in his backyard; “I think trees love it when we love them.” Also includes a bibliography and a short index.
Most elementary and public libraries, particularly those with social justice themed curriculum, should purchase this book. This one should be read aloud to lots of children!
The Books for a Better Earth series is well worth the investment for all elementary and public libraries! I have reviewed several of the series titles for this blog and have been very impressed with the content and quality.
Backmatter includes a personal (passionate!) note from the author about the ways trees help us and his own relationship with his favorite tree in his backyard; “I think trees love it when we love them.” Also includes a bibliography and a short index.
Most elementary and public libraries, particularly those with social justice themed curriculum, should purchase this book. This one should be read aloud to lots of children!
September 23, 2024
This picture book is a 3.5 for me, close to a 4 for me. With illustrations filled with images of a tree and softly-colored nature scenes with trees, trees, trees, and created with a pencil and digital Procreate, this picture book demonstrates vividly just how interlinked the natural world is. The text boasts plentiful use of onomatopoeia ["ROARS! / GUSHES! / POURS" (unpaged), and ["FLITTING / and FLAPPING" (unpaged)] and wonderfully apt descriptive writing ["She HOLDS the soil / from WASHING away / and makes us feel COOLER / when the sun, it LICKS / all over with its / HOT tongue" (unpaged), all of which just might make a reader want to plant a tree or go sit under one growing in the back yard. The fact that the artwork and text follow the tree across four seasons adds the book's possible uses in a science lesson. After all, where would any of us be without all that breathing the trees around us do.
November 19, 2024
A lyrical look at the diversity of life supported by a tree.
"And the tree is BUSY with tree business. When storms HOWL and thunder goes BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! she HOLDS her families safe in her STRONG arms."
The author provides emphasis on certain words and there is lots of fun onomatopoeia.
A portion of the book covers seasons starting in spring and coming full circle back to spring.
There is a lovely author's note at the end that discusses his love for a hackberry tree in his back yard. He expresses his belief that trees love it when we love them. So adopt a tree!
There is also a list of sources/further reading and an index.
I think this would be a great read out loud because the book really sings. But practice first to get the rhythm right.
"And the tree is BUSY with tree business. When storms HOWL and thunder goes BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! she HOLDS her families safe in her STRONG arms."
The author provides emphasis on certain words and there is lots of fun onomatopoeia.
A portion of the book covers seasons starting in spring and coming full circle back to spring.
There is a lovely author's note at the end that discusses his love for a hackberry tree in his back yard. He expresses his belief that trees love it when we love them. So adopt a tree!
There is also a list of sources/further reading and an index.
I think this would be a great read out loud because the book really sings. But practice first to get the rhythm right.
February 6, 2025
A lovely introduction to the glorious nature of trees! I loved the playful language that had an almost storyteller quality to it. Lots of great onomatopoeia and kind of a calming voice brings a great deal of charm to this story about the cyclical nature of the seasons, but also the vast importance of trees in our world. The illustrations have a loose feel to them that adds extra appeal and may inspire young artists to try their hands at reproducing some of the animals within.
March 22, 2025
This book is a delight! Using poetic, lyrical language the author describes all the plants and animals that exist in, on, near, above and around a tree. It shows how a single tree can nurture so many forms of life. The dynamic language makes this book a perfect read-a-loud book. Fun descriptions make the book sing: "frogs no bigger than a hiccup peek-a-boo from bright new leaves". Use this book to introduce a tree, plant or habitat unit.
You can request this book at your local library!
You can request this book at your local library!
November 13, 2024
While not a book that a child might pick up on his own , this is a perfect example of descriptive writing done well. Would be good as a read aloud for a class language arts lesson. I have a new respect for trees after reading this gorgeous picture book.
November 30, 2024
Harrison’s vigorous, life-affirming language carries the reader through from spring to spring, recounting all the aspects of a tree and the creatures who make their lives within her sphere. Yummy illustrations by Kate Cosgrove.
December 12, 2024
Such a joyous, vibrant book. This celebration of the ecosystem of a tree--all of the life it supports--is infectious in its enthusiasm and reminds us to stop and ponder the beauty and wonder that surrounds us in the natural world.
November 5, 2024
A beautiful poetic paean to the backyard tree.
November 7, 2024
Such a fun book! Love the evocative language and gorgeous illustrations.
November 11, 2024
Good message, but in my opinion it wasn't delivered very well.
November 23, 2024
Really fun, playful feel.
December 8, 2024
This one is a pleasure to read aloud and conveys the excitement and wonder of nature with engaging illustrations— would be a good gift for ages 3-10!
December 13, 2024
Children’s picture book. Beautiful pictures.
Read
December 31, 2024A wonderful edition to the "tree canon" of books
January 9, 2025
Beautiful depictions of nature and how the environment whether seasons, animals, and humans impact the world around them.
April 7, 2025
I really wanted to love this book, but I found the sentence structure and verbiage to be odd and a bit clunky.
Read
May 12, 2025Too young for SLQB but better than average. Freeform poetry works well. But young, grade 1 probably.
July 26, 2025
Follows a tree through the seasons focusing on the insects and animals it provides sustenance for and shelters.
Nice backmatter that talks about claiming a tree as one's own.
Nice backmatter that talks about claiming a tree as one's own.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews