The Blue Spruce

by Mario Cuomo, Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen (Illustrator)

An inspiring story of determination, hard work, and belief in your dreams until you capture them. Former Governor Mario Cuomo shares this endearing life lesson passed down to him from his father. Papa told Mario that having a house with a yard and a tree to call our own was his very special dream. Papa was excited about moving his family to their new home, after leaving behind their grocery store for many years, and sharing his dream with them. Papa and Mario loved the magnificent Blue Spruce that grew in the front yard of their new home, often sharing quiet moments in its cool shadow. Each year the Blue Spruce grew taller and stronger, holding within its branches their secrets and dreams. Then, one evening, unusually strong winds began to blow as dark clouds filled the sky. Mario watched anxiously through the window as the Blue Spruce fought against the winds... The Blue Spruce is a story that children will love and parents will love reading. Wonderfully illustrated by Royal Academy of Arts trained Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen, illustrator of the bestselling The Legend of Sleeping Bear and The Legend of Mackinac Island.

Genres: Picture Books, Memoir

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 26, 1999

About the author

Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994. Cuomo became nationally known for his keynote speech at the 1984 Democratic National Convention and the subsequent speculation over the next decade that he might run for the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States.

Reviews

[Libby In Libraryland · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I turned away from Papa. I wanted to tell Papa that I did not believe him. I wanted to tell him that I was cold and mad. I wanted to tell him that he never should have gotten a house with a yard and a tree. I wanted to tell Papa that I did not believe in his dream anymore. But just then a great flash of lighting struck the ground. It lit Papa's face and the huge tree at his feet. I looked at Papa and saw the way his eyes and lips looked in the cold hard rain and I remembered how much the Blue Spruce meant to him. And then I realized how much it meant to me, too. At that moment, I remembered what Papa said about dreams."

[The Reading Countess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this mentor text from, who'd have guessed, Mario Cuomo for a number of reasons. First, he has some strong writing moves that all teachers who teach personal narratives like to show budding writers. Similes, onomatopoeia, explode the moment, repetition and a life lesson are hidden in this memoir. But I also liked The Blue Spruce for some weak word choices. And that's because kids will clearly see how and why we use "million dollar words." Patricia Polacco Mario Cuomo is not. Still, this is a quiet book with lots of teaching meat to it.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great story for teachers who are looking for lessons about the value of hard work and persistence. It is a story about the author's childhood and the lessons he learned from his father, and from the Blue Spruce tree that grew in his yard. I think that this book would also be a good tool to help teach children what it is to be truly grateful for what you have, and to not take simple things for granted.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mario Cuomo wrote this so the responses to it are bound to have some political undertone I suppose, but my response to this is simply that it is a very nice book with a hopeful message.

[Melissa Eddington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theme...You work, you wait and you never give up.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mario is unhappy when his father says the family is leaving the small apartment behind the family grocery store. There will live in a house with a yard for playing and a great big beautiful tree. It is his father’s dream to have a house with a yard and a tree.

And so they move. And Mario reads in the shade of the huge blue spruce. He builds snowmen sheltered by the tree. Sometimes he simply watches the green tree grow. And, in the night, he whispers his secrets to the tree. He’s sure the tree understands Papa’s dream.

But then an intense thunderstorm, filled with lightning and raging wind, threatens the big blue spruce.

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The story comes to life in the stunning illustrations that cover every page. Here young readers learn that perseverance and hard work have value. They see that dreams may come true through determination, hard work, and failing to give up. These are the life lessons passed on to Mario by Papa.

The targeted audience here is the young reader, ages five through nine, kindergarten through fourth grade. But parents will enjoy sharing this book and its exquisite pictures with their children.

Highly recommended.