Big Tree Down!

by Laurie Lawlor, David Gordon (Illustrator)

Overview

Big Tree is the neighborhood’s biggest landmark. It presides over street games, barbeques, and water fights. But crack! Oh no! Big Tree has been split by lightning! In this warm and positive book, people from all parts of the community—neighbors, city workers, and children—come together to clean up and remember Big Tree, and to plant Little Tree in its stead. This wonderful story of neighborly cooperation and community engagement will introduce kids to the joys of being involved in the world immediately around them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823436613
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	01/23/2018
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Laurie Lawlor’s books have appeared on many notable lists, including ALA Notable Children’s Books and ALA Best Books for Young Adults. She lives and teaches in the Chicago metropolitan area.

David Gordon is an illustrator and art director who has worked for numerous production companies, including Lucasfilm, Pixar, and Nickelodeon. His children’s books include Hansel and Diesel and Smitten. He lives in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

"A beloved tree brings the town together even after it is toppled in a storm. . . . Gordon's richly colored illustrations portray the togetherness that is sometimes still found in small towns or urban neighborhoods. Community togetherness at its best in this celebration of a tree."—Kirkus Reviews

"A strength of this title is the rich vocabulary that includes the names of vehicles like a cherry picker and professionals like lineman. . . . Interest will be high for this title. VERDICT An excellent selection for public or school libraries. It can be a go-to title to read after a thunderstorm."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

02/01/2018
PreS-Gr 1—This title shows readers what happens when a big tree comes crashing down in a storm. Safety is a big concern and the police are called to the scene. A strength of this title is the rich vocabulary that includes the names of vehicles like a cherry picker and professionals like lineman. The story is lively, well written, and likely to appeal to children. The illustrations complement the text. They are brightly colored, but also convey the serious message. The image of the cherry picker shows the large blue truck staffed by two people. One person in an orange uniform is reaching into the side panel of the truck and another person in an orange uniform is in the bucket of the cherry picker above the truck. The story ends on a happy note. The beloved tree lives on as firewood, mulch, and other things that bring happiness to the community. A sapling is also planted in big tree's former location. Interest will be high for this title. VERDICT An excellent selection for public or school libraries. It can be a go-to title to read after a thunderstorm.—Robin Sofge, Prince William Public Library System, VA

School Library Journal

2017-12-06
A beloved tree brings the town together even after it is toppled in a storm. Big Tree is "shelter, shade, hiding place. Just right for sharing secrets, leaning, and dreaming." The landmark is the meeting place in town. But then a storm strikes. The huge noise of the falling tree, the car alarms going off, and the fact that the power goes out all have neighbors leaning out their windows. They spy "a patch of sky that wasn't there before." Lawlor nicely enfolds a safety lesson into the tale: the narrator's father calls 911 and reports the downed power line. Community workers arrive to take care of it: the police, the linemen, the forestry crew. Meanwhile, neighbors of all ages and races gather as a community to talk about Big Tree, share food, cook over fires, and sing. The next day, the remnants of Big Tree are ground away and grass is planted. The community feels the loss keenly but also recognizes what Big Tree has left behind: firewood, mulch, branches for artwork, and more. On the final page, the narrator's interracial family (a white man, a darker-skinned woman, and their two children) is shown planting a new sapling. "Meet me at Little Tree." Gordon's richly colored illustrations portray the togetherness that is sometimes still found in small towns or urban neighborhoods.Community togetherness at its best in this celebration of a tree. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Review