Arbor Day Square

by Kathryn O. Galbraith, Cyd Moore (Illustrator)

Overview

Inspired by the creation of Arbor Day, this gentle picture book illuminates the experience of establishing roots in a new home and the comfort that a familiar landscape can provide.

Katie and her papa are among a group of settlers building a town in the middle of the dusty, brown prairie. Every week the trains bring more people who build houses, fences, and barns. But one thing is missing: trees.

The townspeople take up a collection to order trees from back east and Katie adds her own pennies and Papa's silver dollar. When the tiny saplings finally arrive, Katie helps dig holes and fetch water. Then, in a quiet corner off the public square, Katie and Papa plant a flowering dogwood in memory of Mama.

Kathryn O. Galbraith's gentle story of community building, the timelessness of love, and the power of ritual will resonate with readers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781561459223
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	02/02/2016
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.51(w) x 12.00(h) x 0.13(d)
Lexile:	AD600L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Kathryn O. Galbraith grew up in Michigan with four brothers and several pets. The award-winning author of seventeen books, she taught writing for children at the University of Washington for nine years and has spoken at conferences across the country. She lives in Washington.

Cyd Moore has been a painter, graphic designer, and art director, as well as the illustrator of more than fifty books, including I Love You, Stinky Face, which has sold over a million and a half copies, and Willow, which was included in Oprah's Book Club 2010 Kids' Reading List: 6 to 9 Years. Originally from Georgia, she now lives in South Carolina.

Editorial Reviews

"Galbraith's poetic text and Moore's soft watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations recreate those spring days on the prairie when planting trees was a cause for celebration."—School Library Journal

"An attractive introduction to the celebration of Arbor Day."—Booklist

"Moore's gentle pencil and watercolors lend a classic storybook feel to the story"—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

Papa and Katie, a father and daughter, move to a new prairie town in the 1800s. As they settle in, Papa notices, along with other townspeople, that there are no trees for climbing, shade or firewood. Everyone donates what they can for new trees, even Katie, who drops six pennies into the collection basket. When the trees arrive, the townspeople celebrate their arrival with music and food and set about planting them. Thus, Arbor Day is born. It's hard for Katie to believe that someday the little saplings will be big trees, but Papa assures her they will. They also plant one in memory of Katie's mother, a story within the story that's left to readers' imaginations. The last two spreads bring the tale forward, first with a glimpse of a grown Katie and her own children, then with a modern park scene. Moore's gentle pencil and watercolors lend a classic "storybook" feel to the story but don't stand out stylistically. A sweet but not terribly substantive tale about the origin of Arbor Day. (historical note) (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews