What do you think?
Rate this book
Thea's Tree
Thea?s science project grows unusually tall in this funny twist on the classic Jack fairy tale. Thea decides to plant some old bean seeds and watch them grow as her science project. And grow they do?into a giant beanstalk. Savvy young readers will recognize elements from the classic ?Jack? fairy tale, such as a harp and golden egg, but the haughty grown-ups that Thea writes to for help do not. Thea receives letters and comical advice from a plethora of dim ?experts,? ranging from botanist to symphony conductor to zoologist. Thea?s Tree playfully combines curriculum areas, including science, language arts, and storytelling into a clever tale kids will love.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published May 15, 2008
30 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 29, 2008
I really should set up a Good Reads account for my daughter and help her write reviews of her books!
This is one she cannot get enough of. We borrowed it from the library and I've already read it countless times to her and she's still not quite ready to return it.
Thea's tree is actually a giant beanstalk and the story is told completely through letters as Thea tries to find out exactly what plant she planted for her science experiment. She contacts a botanist and curator and a zoologist, among others. It's a great opportunity to discuss career paths as you read this book with your child. There are great illustrations too.
This is one she cannot get enough of. We borrowed it from the library and I've already read it countless times to her and she's still not quite ready to return it.
Thea's tree is actually a giant beanstalk and the story is told completely through letters as Thea tries to find out exactly what plant she planted for her science experiment. She contacts a botanist and curator and a zoologist, among others. It's a great opportunity to discuss career paths as you read this book with your child. There are great illustrations too.
July 15, 2008
In this book, told entirely through letters, Thea asks local experts to explain the tree that is growing from little purple seeds she is growing for a science report. None of the experts can help. All she needs is someone who knows the story of Jack and the Beanstalk.
Very well done--cute, humerous. Great illustrations.
Very well done--cute, humerous. Great illustrations.
July 9, 2008
How long will it take older kids to figure out what's going on here?
Hopefully, they will catch on quickly. And if not, hurry and find a copy of "Jack and the Beanstalk"!
Hopefully, they will catch on quickly. And if not, hurry and find a copy of "Jack and the Beanstalk"!
May 12, 2021
A little girl, Thea, is tasked with a science project to grow a plant, but when she begins she has no idea what's in store for her. This is a great introduction for a class science project unit. The story seems like a spin off of Jack and the Beanstalk. I think that this story would invoke a sense of wonder in students regarding science and exploring and all things unknown. I like the youthful energy of the book and the way that it seems to carry through the letters of Thea and other science professionals. Regardless of how it maybe isn't the best way to introduce nonfiction, real life science to children, it is definitely engaging and entertaining.
March 27, 2019
Interdisciplinary... writing letters
March 23, 2016
Thea's Tree is about a young girl in Topeka, Kansas who is designing an experiment for her science class. She decides to plant an unusual purple beans in her backyard and records her observations. The bean sprouts and grows to unimaginable heights, leaves odd things on the ground, and produces seemingly magical things. Through a series of letters, Thea reaches out to a wide range of "experts" that don't take her inquiries regarding the magical plant seriously.
This book would be a great read aloud text for younger primary students. I could see it as being a fun way to introduce letter writing to students seeing as the entire book's story is told through the use of letters back and forth. Thea's Tree would also be a good read for inferences because there is a distinct pattern to the story and how the "experts" respond to Thea's seemingly ridiculous questions regarding the plant.
Thea's Tree has not received any notable awards.
This book would be a great read aloud text for younger primary students. I could see it as being a fun way to introduce letter writing to students seeing as the entire book's story is told through the use of letters back and forth. Thea's Tree would also be a good read for inferences because there is a distinct pattern to the story and how the "experts" respond to Thea's seemingly ridiculous questions regarding the plant.
Thea's Tree has not received any notable awards.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2011
This is a fun story about a science project gone crazy. A little girl named Thea plants an unusual seed for her project and it grows into the beanstalk from the classic tale featuring Jack. The tale is told through correspondence between Thea and a group of different experts as well as in the illustrations, which complement the story nicely. It reminds us of the story Plantzilla and Plantzilla Goes to Camp by Jerdine Nolen Harold. We enjoyed reading this story together.
October 11, 2010
--grades 3-5
--Thea decides to do a science project about growing a plant.
--She observes and measures her findings and writes to experts to see if they know what kind of plant it is.
--The experts speculate, but refer her to other experts when they are stumped.
--The ground bubbles when the seed is placed in the soil. It grows ten feet around in 9 days. In less than 2 weeks the vine is so tall it surpasses the height of the house and Thea needs binoculars to see the top. A nest appears and a golden egg drops to the ground. Then some coins. Then a harp. Are you able to predict what is going on?
--A great way to link science with folklore and predictions/hypotheses. Fun!!
--Thea decides to do a science project about growing a plant.
--She observes and measures her findings and writes to experts to see if they know what kind of plant it is.
--The experts speculate, but refer her to other experts when they are stumped.
--The ground bubbles when the seed is placed in the soil. It grows ten feet around in 9 days. In less than 2 weeks the vine is so tall it surpasses the height of the house and Thea needs binoculars to see the top. A nest appears and a golden egg drops to the ground. Then some coins. Then a harp. Are you able to predict what is going on?
--A great way to link science with folklore and predictions/hypotheses. Fun!!
July 28, 2014
Written in letter style to various specialists, budding scientist Thea shares her observations of a seed/plant she is growing with a variety of scientists and gets all sorts of feedback about what type of plant it is and what could be happening to the plant based on Thea’s descriptions and the field of study in which the expert is involved. Meanwhile, reader’s can see what’s really happening. Do you recognize this story?
Great for fun or to introduce the scientific method or letter writing.
Great for fun or to introduce the scientific method or letter writing.
August 23, 2015
Told mostly through letters, this is the story of a girl who plants a purple seed for a science project. As the plant begins to grow rapidly, Thea contacts experts for help, but no one seems to know what type of plant she is growing in her yard.
Clues in the illustrations will help students figure out what the experts can't.
I know teachers are always looking for picture books that are epistolary. This one seems to fit the bill.
Clues in the illustrations will help students figure out what the experts can't.
I know teachers are always looking for picture books that are epistolary. This one seems to fit the bill.
April 12, 2013
A delightful way of engaging fairy tale and myth into a present day setting. I loved the epistolary format, and the author showed shinning humor and wit in her back-and-forth between "experts" and the young child doing a science project. A great book for those who love fairy tales and want to relate them to our lives today.
December 14, 2015
Thea’s Tree is the book of a science research project which turns into a spin-off of jack and the beanstalk. The book is brilliant because the text is written in letter form. This would be good to use in the classroom as context to introduce and teach how to properly write letters. Students could then write letters of their own as a response activity.
January 16, 2017
I love the way that this book plays on a classic fairy tale while also incorporating the scientific method and the use of inquiry. The writing style is perfectly suited for teaching persistence as well as showing different professionals that can aid you in learning more about a specific topic. Beautiful illustrations and detailed notes complement the plot to make for a sublime children's book.
July 15, 2008
This is a Jack & the Beanstalk kind of story, cleverly written in the form of letters sent by the girl who planted the bean to various experts in the fields of botany, zoology, and banking concerning the tree and the various objects that fall from it.
September 7, 2009
Great book for inferring!! Thea plants a seed for her science project but this is no ordinary seed. Told through letters(great for writing), Thea is determined to figure out what she planted in her yard that is growing like crazy.
January 25, 2017
Identifies various types of plants
Good "mystery" storyline
"Jack and the Beanstalk:" Major rendition
Characters communicate through written letters
I could incorporate this into a science lesson about botany.
Good "mystery" storyline
"Jack and the Beanstalk:" Major rendition
Characters communicate through written letters
I could incorporate this into a science lesson about botany.
February 9, 2010
An inventive fractured fairy tale based on Jack and The Beanstalk. This is a good picture book for school age kids.
March 27, 2013
A cute send-up of "Jack in the Beanstalk" revealed through letters about a science fair project.
July 29, 2016
Fun to read once. Liked the letters aspect.
March 22, 2014
Fun picture book for older readers.
October 14, 2014
So enjoyable to read aloud! There's alliteration, a deep connection to another story and fantastic illustrations to carry you along Thea's letter writing journey.
August 5, 2015
Awesome story with awesome illustrations!
December 10, 2009
"science experiment, jack and the bean stalk, told in letters from girl to scientists"
September 6, 2012
The story is told through letters.
March 16, 2017
I loved the different variety of illustrations in this book and how it was about a little tree seedling and the path it took in order to grow to be how big it ended up being. It is a great book to read to students who are planting something (for example, flowers).
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews