What Good Is a Tree?

by Larry Dane Brimner, Larry Dane Brimner

When a boy wonders, "What good is a tree?" he and his sister come up with a lot of answers, from using it as a fort to making it second base

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Larry Dane Brimner is the recipient of the 2018 Robert F. Sibert Award for the most distinguished informational book for children for his title Twelve Days in May: Freedom Ride 1961. He is known for his well-researched, innovative, and award-winning nonfiction for young readers, and is the author of multiple acclaimed civil rights titles, including Strike!: The Farm Workers' Fight for Their Rights; and Black & White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene "Bull" Connor.

Reviews

[Mister David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nice book, with very little text. Unfortunately the format is a little small. Tells all the things that children can use a tree for.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

When a boy asks a girl what good a tree is, she has all kinds of answers for him. A nice book about pretend play and being imaginative. Simple illustrations bring the story to life.

[Marit]

In this book we can see all the ways a tree is good to have; from being a castle or a fort, a jail, a rocket to space, and so much more. I think this book was cute and it was written in a playful way where the explanation of why a tree is good to have was from the way maybe children see it. We as adults would maybe say that trees are good for every life on this earth, it creates air and much more. I think children can relate to how this book present the importance of having trees.

[Dolly · Rating 2 out of 5]

A simple story about the different ways two children view the tree in their yard. The illustrations are crudely drawn, cartoonish and simple and our girls came up with far more interesting ways that trees are good than we read about in this book. But at least it was a good way to start the conversation.

[Deatrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am utterly shocked anyone could read this book and give it less than 5 stars! This book is full of imagination and great ideas that children will be happy to learn and apply right away. It will also bring back fond memories for those people who loved and played with trees growing up.

[Christie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great easy reader book...didn't have to offer much help.