It’s April. It’s spring! It’s Earth Month. Let’s talk about naturey picture books!
Let’s talk about an array of them featuring TREES to start.
We Planted a Tree by Diane Muldrow, illustrated by Bob Staake.
One family plants a tree. And so does the other. A tribute to the good things trees do for everybody, across the world.
And I love the dedication to Wangari Maathai, aka Mama Miti.
images via Tiny ReadsÂ
The Tree Lady by H. Joseph Hopkins, illustrated by Jill McElmurry.
A biobook of Kate Sessions who grew up in the 1860s, when most girls didn’t study science. But Kate did.
Kate was distinct. Kate did a lot of surprising things. One special one was planting trees in San Diego when it was dusty brown. That’s how she became known as the Mother of Balboa Park.
image via Art JulzÂ
Jack Pine by Christopher Patton, illustrations by Cybele Young.
“Come meet Jack Pine. You’ll never see,
with luck, a tree less lovely than—
a tree more bent, more squat, more grim
more weird and ugly than—Jack Pine.”
This one opens with an invitation. It’s full of poem and collaged drawings. It guides us to Jack Pine’s true purpose.
image via House of AnansiÂ
House Held Up By Trees by Ted Kooser, illustrated by Jon Klassen.
Just thinking about the beauty of this book can bring tears. A house. A lawn. A boy and girl and their father. Wild trees on either side of their shadeless, seedless plot.
Until the house and lawn are left alone.
Hypnotic. Quiet. Beautiful. Magical. Magical trees.
 image via Gallery Nucleus
A Tree is Nice by Janice May Udry, pictures by Marc Simont.
Indeed, a tree is nice, isn’t it? Good for so many things. So many simple, old-fashioned, useful things (e.g. climbing, swinging, napping, filling up the sky).
image via Turtle and Robot
Your turn! Favorite tree-related books to share?Â
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Now for the tree crafts. And cherry blossoms in particular because they’re so iconic of spring (and because I’m longing to visit Japan!).
Black paint, a straw, and pink tissue paper make a 3D cherry blossom tree from Meet the Dubiens.
These cherry blossom cupcakes by The Baking Sheet!
Amazing, intricate paper kit by Terada Mokei.
This origami cherry blossom ball would be quite a project!
Did I save the best for last? Incredible (no longer edible) painted marshmallows using markers and food coloring pens from The Decorated Cookie. Squishy, gorgeous, so much fun.
Our Tree Named Steve is funny and heartwarming…
Josh, I didn’t know that one! It looks beyond sweet.
It is, but read it to yourself all the way through before reading it to any children (without giving too much away, i’ll just say it has an emotion-filled ending).
MAPLE by Lori Nichols is the book I can’t seem to stop renewing from my library!
And…REDWOODS by Jason Chin – Love it!
Oh yes! We may be seeing some Jason Chin books at some point in April is for nature month! 🙂
New to me; thanks for pointing me/us toward this one! Just the cover is enough to make me love it.
There’s also Picture a Tree by Barbara Reid, do you know that one? (Hate to even ask as you are usually ahead of me!)
All those blossoms make me home sick for Vancouver, BC where we used to have plum blossoms and “pink snow” every spring.
I didn’t know that one! I think it’s YOU who could give me a picture book education. Or we’ll consider it a mutual education. 😉
Plum blossoms and pink snow sound lovely.