When a Tree Grows

by Cathy Ballou Mealey, Kasia Nowowiejska (Illustrator)

This humorous picture book tells a sweet story of friendship, generosity, and how one fun thing leads to another.
 
When Moose sees the inviting tree where Squirrel has built his nest, he rubs his itchy antlers against the trunk—and sets in motion a chain of comic catastrophes. The tree falls and wakes Bear, who stumbles into Moose, who causes a truck driver to swerve off the road. But then Squirrel jumps onto that truck and ends up in the city, all alone. Who will help him get home? And how will Squirrel thank them? Kids will love this adorable picture book, with its irresistible animal characters and rhythmic text that’s made for reading out loud.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Humor, Friendship

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 2, 2019

About the author

Author of picture books
Autism advocate
Scone aficionado

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well from the book title, from When a Tree Grows, I originally and in my humble opinion also naturally assumed that Cathy Ballou Mealey's text would first and foremost be about trees, about how they grow and likely also presenting how animals like moose and squirrels depend on trees for shelter and nourishment (their leaves, their bark and branches, their acorns etc.) and certainly NOT this here presented totally silly and disjointedly illogical cause-and-effect sequence, which I for one have not at ALL personally enjoyed (especially the totally over-the top urban scenarios and that even though from Kasia Nowowiejska's accompanying artwork, one can and should clearly assume that When A Tree Grows is clearly taking place in the autumn and not in winter, Bear is described by the author as and yes very much wrongfully so already sleeping in his winter den, in his winter cave).

And while the rather majorly far-fetched storyline that Cathy Ballou Mealey features in When a Tree Grows might well be engaging and fun for younger children (or rather I should say for some younger children), both my adult self and my inner child have not at all been either all that much amused or enchanted, and to the point that I can really only consider a very much grudging two stars for When a Tree Grows (and really, the only reason I am still considering two and not just one star for When a Tree Grows is that I do in fact and indeed find Kasia Nowowiejska's artwork aesthetically appealing, colourful and fun, but that most definitely, this is not in any manner enough to redeem the author's narrative for me, which I am sorry to say, I have simply found both hugely forgettable and too majorly annoyingly nonsensical, frivolous and weird).

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is this a cause-and-effect or choose-your-own-adventure book? It’s a bit of both and more! When a Tree Grows is an adorably fun book about possible hilarious consequences of every action taken by a cast of forest animals with strong personalities. It leads you on an absurdly humorous journey and circles back to a very satisfying conclusion. Perfect for both story time and bedtime reading, parents and kids will all love this picture book!

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title is a bit deceptive: this book is not about how a tree grows and it doesn’t teach that. Instead it is a silly sequence story in the vein of “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie”. It is funny and kids 3-5 may enjoy it.

[Carrie Finison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a cleverly-crafted, laugh-out-loud story that both my kids enjoyed reading. When a tree grows in the forest, what could go wrong? Plenty, as it turns out, especially when bumbling Moose and his intrepid friend, Squirrel, are involved. A madcap adventure sends Squirrel off to the big city but, can he make it home to the forest again? Maybe...depending on what turns this "what if" tale takes. A very enjoyable read!

[Robin Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you ready to giggle? . . . OR [Page turn] Are you ready to giggle some more?
This book is a super clever, crazy fun, giggle-ri-fic page turner that you won't be able to put down. Loved it!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish very much that I could read this book by Cathy Ballou Mealey aloud to a class. When I get the chance, I will read it to my granddaughters and we will laugh at every page. It's an awesome 'what if?' tale with a bit of a twist. When one thing occurs (like a tree growing), two things can happen. And, then? I'm sure when reading this very fun tale, those hearing it will be shouting answers of what will happen! Kasia Nowowiejska's illustrations add to the laughter as she fills the pages with lovely animals living all together, sometimes with quirky alarm, but mostly with happiness.

[Beth Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy seeing creative ways to structure a story. When a Tree Grows invites kids to consider consequences, see cause and effect relationships, and use their imaginations to create their own stories. This book has so many possibilities as a springboard for creative classroom activities involving critical thinking, writing, and even as nonfiction format for science related cause/effect relationships and writing about biomes and environment.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightfully fun book, featuring a moose and other forest animals, is a great way to show kids the concept of cause and effect. (The basic set up is when SOMETHING happens, then THIS could happen, OR THAT could happen.) Kids had fun trying to guess which alternative would happen on the next page.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny book with a unique take on cause and effect. There are sometimes TWO options for each effect. Bouncing back and forth between two or one options can get confusing sometimes but is still a fun read.

[Meryl S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a tutor, I can easily see 3-5 year olds repeatedly asking to hear this book read at bedtime. I adore the opportunity for them to learn about cause and effect. Older students will chuckle (as I did!) while reading the potential consequences of each situation. When I was very young, my father made up stories about Sammy Squirrel, one of the "residents" of our backyard. So, it is not surprising that my favorite section relates to how Squirrel's friend rescues him from making an unwise decision. I am also an author, and I know that illustrations are a vital element of any children's book. Kasia Nowowiejska's artwork is superb, especially on the page devoted to the welcome-home party. There aren't any little ones in this home, but I've already read WHEN A TREE GROWS five times!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cathy Ballou Mealey’s WHEN A TREE GROWS is a clever, delightful romp that follows friends Moose and Squirrel through an if/then narrative adventure. Each page has two possibilities, the first, benign and plausible, the second more unlikely. As the unlikely outcomes pile up, Squirrel ends up in the big city missing Moose. The finale of the book concludes with a wonderful (subtle) message about friendship, sharing, and forest replenishment. This hilarious cause and effect picture book will delight both children and adults and make a wonderful addition to any family’s bookshelf. It’s a favorite, oft-requested title in our home.

[Marcie Flinchum · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a tree grows in a forest two things can happen… This sets off a chain events where things could go two ways. Mealey shows how each event can lead to more than one next event. With a brilliant use of page turns, the possibilities of what happens next are silly and sweet. This is a great text to use when teaching cause and effect with children. This unique structure makes for a fun and surprising read aloud. Highly recommended for schools and libraries.

[Lauri Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun interactive structure! “When a tree grows …two things could happen.” “OR” beckons for a page turn. A tree growing in the forest causes moose to push down a tree, bear to push moose into the road, a truck of nuts to crash… and it gets wilder from there! Squirrel’s adventure in the big city sets up a moment of sorrow and a sweet satisfying ending. Lots of laughs. This book begs to be read over and over.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful book. The suspenseful page turns will fascinate children again and again. Like everything in life, things can go smoothly, OR they can get tipped upside down in unexpected ways. A cute story about friendship and how life sometimes happens when you're making other plans. The digitally created illustrations are fun, too!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moose, Squirrel, and Bear star in this fast-paced, comical page-turner that will remind the reader of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Choose Your Own Adventure stories. The chain reaction of increasingly absurd scenarios feels a bit like a kiddie rollercoaster with its ups, downs, giggles, and gasps. It even comes full circle at the end. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This adorable story allows for two possibilities when something happens in a forest. First a moose rubs his antlers on a tree. Does he break the tree or does it sway gently as he rubs his head? Meet Moose, Bear, a pick up truck, and Squirrel!

This is an adorable addition to any picture book collection!

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a Tree Grows is a clever story that continuously gives readers a peek at one thing that could happen before taking a sharp turn in a more interesting direction. The woodland characters are cute, the novel storytelling technique is engaging, and the plot twists are...nuts.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chain reaction of things happens in this story when the moose rubs his antlers against a trees. There are always two choices of things that could happen on each page with each action taking place. Good book to talk about actions and reactions for your choices.

[Stephanie Lucianovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

With sprightly illustrations, this book takes the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie format into the wild where the author creates a hilarious if/then story that gives the reader a lot of open space to come up with their own rip-roaring if/thens.

[Sara Shacter · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE the premise of this book -- each spread sets up a scenario that can go in either of two directions -- we find out which wins with a page turn. There are many laughs and surprises along the way, and the end is a satisfying ode to friendship. Kids will want to read this over and over again.

[Richard Ho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every action by Moose, Squirrel, or Bear has two wildly divergent reactions in this hilarious tale of unintended consequences. The “OR…” at the bottom corner of each spread propels the story forward at a snappy pace, and the fun wordplay and silly scenarios make for a great read-aloud!

[Cassandra Federman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun book that my son demanded to read it again once we'd finished. We had so much fun trying to guess where the story was going to go--only to be wrong and delighted every time. Definitely one we will be rereading over and over!

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love the structure of this book! I couldn't help imaging kids trying to figure out the "What if?" behind each scenario. It invites kids in to imagine and wonder and play with ideas. It could also be a springboard for lots of classroom activities.

[Ellen L. Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a funny “what if” story featuring a moose and a squirrel and all the things that could happen "when a tree grows in a forest." The story ends with a forest full of trees. Read this story aloud to a bunch of kids, and you’ll have a room full of laughs!

[Jenniferh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for my Tree storytime. Very cute book, reminiscent of Numeroff's Cookie Mouse books.

[Jenna Grodzicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story about the chain of events that COULD happen when a moose scratches his antlers on a tree. Perfect choice for a read aloud.

[Melanie Ellsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable and funny!

[Hannah Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read! I love this format and my son giggled with delight as we followed the plots twists and turns. Bright and fun illustrations too!

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

You never know what might arise when a tree grows! Read to find out all the silly things that could happen in this clever book! The illustrations and characters are darling and full of surprises.

[Sheri Dillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a reader loves a book... they recommend it to others! Fun story with a clever format that will keep kids engaged and excited to turn the page to see what happens. Love it!