Picture a Tree
Barbara Reid, Author and Illustrator
Albert Whitman & Company, Fiction, 2013
Suitable for ages: 4-7
Themes: Trees, Imagination, Nature, Seasons
Opening: “There is more than one way to picture a tree. You may see a drawing on the sky. A game of dress-up.”
Summary: Picture a tree–what do you see? A tree can be so many things: a drawing in the sky, a tunnel hovering over a neighborhood, a home for birds and animals, a clubhouse, a pirate ship, a great place to climb and think and shade from the heat.
Why I like this book: This is a perfect Earth Day book because it a celebration of trees, one of our most important resources. Barbara Reid encourages her young readers to stretch their imaginations to see that a tree can be any thing as they change with each season. Her text is simple and the artwork is gorgeous and lively. Her unique Plasticine creations are pressed onto an illustration board showing layered textures and color for a special visual effect. Both children and adults will study the expressive detail on the pages of this extraordinary book. And, make sure you check out the gorgeous end papers which are filled with pictures of trees. This is a wonderful book for the classroom and home.
Resources: Have children draw pictures of trees for each season and something special about the season. Visit Barbara Reid’s website where there is a students/teacher artwork page, a picture a tree memory game, videos and a page devoted to working with Plasticine material.
Children's Books Heal 
I love the 3D look and great trailer. Great pick for Earth Day, Pat.
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The cover grabbed my attention too! But, the book is a great way to helps kids see the importance of trees and how they help the environment.
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I love trees. I remember climbing trees as a kid. Love the trailer. Happy Earth Day, Pat.
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Glad you enjoyed the book and that it stirred up memories. I was a tree climber too.
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Her illustrations remind me of Susan Eaddy’s and Suzanne del Rizzo’s – lovely!
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Yes, they do. It is a lovely book for kids to help them understand the many ways we see trees.
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I love the look of this book! I’ve got it on my want list! Thanks for the review and trailer!
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Glad you liked my pick for Earth Day. Great classroom pick. The trailer is cute.
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I adore anything that helps stimulate a child’s imagination.
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This book does enourage the imagination as well as help understand the importance of trees.
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I love that plasticine illustration! Sounds like a great book, Patricia.
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The plasticine illustrations are beautiful and add a 3D look. If you visit Barbara Reid’s website you can see her working the the plascticine.
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Just stumbled across this boy myself this week – lovely! Can’t wait to read it to my kids!
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I loved the cover and illustrations. Lovely way to encourage imagination.
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I love the illustrations! Looks like a sweet book.
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Yes, it is a wonderful book to encourage young minds.
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What a great book for Earth Day (or any day!).
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Yes it is for both Earth Day and Arbor Day. Also reviewed The Tree Lady last Friday.
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I love Barbara Reid’s books.Her illustrations are so unique. I attended a workshop where she explained in detail how she creates the Plasticine pictures. I have given this book as a gift to a small person but enjoyed looking through it first. Another perfect book suggestion for Earth Day
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Lucky you! Her pasticine pictures are a wonder. Thanks for tweeting.
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Great review. This sounds like a wonderful book for Earth Day. 🙂
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It is a wonderful book for Earth Day!
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Excellent! Thank you for the introduction Patricia, I’ll be adding this one to my collection.
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I’m glad you enjoyed the selection. Barbara Reid’s artwork is very special. And, the book encourages kids to imagine.
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Perfect pick for Earth Day! The illustrations are so unique! Great review, Pat!
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Thank you Cathy. The illustrations are really interesting.
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