The Money Tree

by Sarah Stewart, David Small (Illustrator)

In The Money Tree , Caldecott Honor-winning writer/artist team Sarah Stewart and David Small reveal the true root of happiness for an independent woman content with the little things in life in this beautifully illustrated children's picture book.

Miss McGillicuddy's simple country routine involves taking care of her pets and garden, and enjoying such pleasures as reading and quilting.

Then one day, she discovers a very unusual tree growing in her yard--one with leaves that appear to be bills of money. As she shares the fruits of this bounty with her neighbors, their increasing greed leads to a year where folks just can't get enough cash, disrupting her quiet life.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Money, Short Stories, Classics

40 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 1991

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Wife of famed illustrator, David Small, Sarah Stewart has written a number of children's books. She grew up in Texas, and lives in Michigan with her husband.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/sarahs...

Reviews

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s official: I am in love with this wife-husband author-illustrator team. This is the fifth book by them that I’ve read. I particularly adore Small’s illustrations.

I wasn’t sure I’d like this one; the premise seemed weird and the story a tad too message heavy, but I really enjoyed it.

I was enchanted by all the pictures, in particular those of the dogs, cats, and birds, but all of them really. The autumn leaves on the inside cover pages are gorgeous.

The story goes from January to December, one month on every double page. Miss McGillicuddy discovers a rapidly growing tree in her yard. Her priorities and others’ are not the same, and there is a message here about money not being the source of one’s main happiness.

I smiled at the end, yet I also felt sad and wished for a slightly different conclusion, but I’m not sure what exactly what I’d have done instead. It worked out okay for me. It’s a lovely story with wonderful illustrations.

[Dolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It depicts a woman who lives in the country and quietly goes about her chores: planting a garden, caring for her pets, making a quilt, reading a book, etc. All the while, a money tree sprouts up in her yard and people go nuts trying to harvest the leaves.

It is a simple story and tells about a woman unimpressed with material wealth, but comforted by a warm fire on a winter's night. It speaks of a simpler life, one that is not defined by dollars, but by the quality and joy with which you live it. I think we all can take something from this.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

If only poor, oblivious Miss McGillicudy knew. Haha.

Ages: 4 - 8

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[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greed. It gets all of us, sometime.

My favorite picture in this book is when autumn comes and finds Miss M carving a pumpkin. She stands and watches people at the foot of the money tree, knife clasped behind her back. Perfection.

[Terri Shown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. The illustrations are charming and the premise is interesting but I feel like the book lacked an adequate ending or something. I thought it would be more heart warming but at the end I remembering feeling the book fell a little flat. The main character obviously isn’t concerned about money but I felt the message of the book missed a mark a bit. It is saved however by the stunning illustrations.

[Carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book encapsulates my ideal reclusive, rural, self-sufficient life, complete with three dogs and a working fireplace. A cozy book, but with a faintly distressing central theme come at from the side. What you get is not a lesson in morality but an open-ended question. I like a writer who trusts a reader that way. And, as always, David Small's artwork has a way of somehow capturing essence in posture and look. Simple, wonderful.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this as the first book in the Sarah Stewart author study with 2nd grade. I used the kit with the CD, which was nice because it has the background noises and everything. One of the kids said it was kind of like watching a movie. The idea of a "money tree" was fascinating to the kids, as well. I took the activity idea from Patte---I had the kids draw what they think a money tree would look like and then on the back write what they would do if a money tree grew in their yard.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

29 months - not our most favorite story by this author/illustrator duo. The illustrations were as always beautiful and the dogs and cats reminded us of our past and present friends. O is a bit young to understand the story she asked me what money was, oh to be two again. So more than likely this story will spark some interesting discussions as she gets older.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun idea for a book. I thought it was a tad preachy, but still fascinating.

The kids were listening to this on-tape in the next room, and Matt and I were drawn several times over to them to check out the illustrations that could accompany such mind-sparking text.

[Marianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the end my children were both "Is she crazy?" The events of this book lead to a very interesting discussion about just why Miss McGillicuddy may have taken the actions she did.

The book also has lovely illustrations.

[Cheryl]

I must be missing something. I mean, ok, yes, greed is not only bad but embarrassing, and self-sufficiency and hard work are good. But the mc looks so very sad in all the pictures. Her animal companions are adorable, though!

[forthefamilyssake Hailey White · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the ending surprised me....and I'm not certain still if I liked it or not, the illustrations captivated my children and myself.

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the illustrations and watching the passing of the seasons in Miss McGillicuddy's garden. I didn't really understand the ending.
Read with Naomi & Arielle.

[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I... I don't get it. What was the point?

Miss McGillicuddy has a strange tree growing in her yard that attracts a lot of attention, but overall doesn't affect her quiet routines throughout the year. I mean, yes, I understand the lesson that her routines and year still pass well and contentedly despite the amazing thing growing in her yard, but it just felt so flat. Like, nothing to wrap things together, nothing to bring close the story out satisfactorily. Too subtle a picture book message for me, I suppose.

As for the illustrations, I liked the countryside, I liked the animals and flowers and natural details. I was not a fan of the people and facial expressions. And maybe it's just my other pop culture interests, but the Money Tree itself was kinda creepy.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated picture book about a woman who lives in a rural farmhouse with her animals. It goes month by month - in January she notices something in the yard, in February she realizes its a tree growing, in spring when it grows leaves she realizes that the leaves are American money, in summer and fall people come to ask for the leaves and later to just take them, and in later fall the leaves wither and die - and in December she cuts down the tree. Oddly enough, I used it for a Latin lesson with my children, too - they just learned months of the year in Latin, and they know a lot of the vocabulary used in this book, so we read it again, converting bits of it to Latin. That was fun!

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss McGillicuddy notices a strange shape in her yard in January. Each month through the year she notices something different about the unusual tree. As the story moves along everyone around seems to know it is a money tree except for Miss McGillicuddy. To her it is a tiring oddity that has strangers in her yard day and night harvesting the tree.
The story and its ending puzzle me, but it is fabulously written and superbly illustrated. Beautiful.

[Audrey Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grade Level: Kindergarten+ | Genre: Modern Fantasy
Whilst this book is absolutely beautifully illustrated, I find that The Money Tree doesn't have quite a lot to offer other than that. The book does offer a small message, that people can be greedy and take things for granted, but other than that, I feel the book falls a little flat.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miss McGillicuddy has the patience of a saint. She is blessed with a tree that has foliage that looks like money. More and more people help themselves to the fruits and trees. She does not complain all through that, nor when the tree is no longer.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the message of this book, there's more to life than money. But will kids get it? What about the ending, why does she smile?

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book to the kids when they were younger and have always been on the lookout for it at thrift stores or garage sales. It's a keeper..krb 3/10/19

[K · Rating 1 out of 5]

Other reviewers are saying this book was 'message heavy.' What message? I didn't get it.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

What beautiful illustrations!

[SandraJane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great children's book. Really love the books that have subtle themes teaching morals and ethics.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about what is most important in life, and the joys of being happy and content with your life.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miss McGillicuddy has an unusual tree growing in her yard. It attracts the neighbors but it doesn't really effect Miss McGillicuddy has she goes on with her life through it's changing seasons.

[Misa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations of this book so much. The story is also good, it is about how people got crazy over money and become completely blind to the beauty of a simple life and nature.

[Sarah Keizer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has Sarah Stewart (figuratively) written all over it. A great reminder to cherish the important things in life.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paints a wonderful picture of contentment in the simple life. The illustrations are beautiful!

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Title: The Money Tree by Sarah Stewart

Short Description: In this story, Miss McGillicuddy watches, throughout the year, a strange plant that is growing in her garden.

Narrative Features I would use in a mini-lesson:

1. Conflict and resolution: Sarah Stewart uses this story to show the conflict of man vs society. She describes the greediness of people in a powerful way. (In July, the town officials came by to borrow some of the greenery for some special projects. In August, she noticed the people carrying bags and baskets were perfect strangers!) At the end, the story is resolved when she cuts down the tree. Students could use this story to help them outline and understand how to create a conflict and resolve the conflict by the end of the story.
2. Theme: Stewart uses this story to send a message to readers. The message of the story is: "Take only what you need and Be happy with what you have." Students can use this book to help them create a central message in their stories.
3. Sequencing: Stewart shows time differently by summarizing each month in an entire year. For example, "In January, when Miss McGillicuddy was making a quilt in front of the fire, she noticed an unusual shape outside her living-room window." Each page starts with the month, what the character was doing, and what was happening with the tree. This could be helpful for students who are wanting to show large chunks of time in their story.

Teach:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
1. Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
2.Use dialogue and description to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
3.Use a variety of transitional words and phrases to manage the sequence of events.
4.Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.

Expected Outcome: Students will be able to create a narrative with conflict, resolution, and a central message.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miss McGillicuddy notices a strange tree growing in her yard...a tree growing money. She shares the money with others and some people go crazy trying to collect as much money as they can from the tree. Meanwhile, each month, Miss McGillicuddy goes on tending her garden, caring for her animals and reading by the fire.

I like the illustrations a lot, although while Miss McGillicuddy seems puzzled by the greed of others, she also looks sad in nearly every illustration. I wonder what message/lesson children would get from this story? Would they recognize that money is not truly a source of happiness (a lesson that might be more effective if Miss McGillicuddy looked happy!) or that we can be content with what we have. I appreciate Miss McGillicuddy's unselfish sharing with others...and not just sharing the money on the money tree.