Arbor Day Square [Hardcover]

K/H PATHWAYS (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2010 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

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 and more lumber to build houses, fences, and barns. New buildings are erected: a church with a steeple, a store with glass windows, even a schoolhouse with desks for seventeen children.



But one thing is missing: trees.



When the townspeople take up a collection to order trees from back east 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.



Although set in the past, Kathryn O. Galbraith's gentle story of community building, the timelessness of love, and the power of ritual will resonate with young readers today. Cyd Moore's full-color illustrations reflect the simplicity of the story and life in a new prairie town, while evoking the complexity of its themes.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3—A brand-new prairie town has no trees. "No trees for climbing./Or for shade./No trees for fruit or warm winter fires./No trees for birds. Or for beauty." A girl and her father are among the townsfolk who pass a collection basket and raise enough to order 15 trees from back East for the town square. When the train finally brings the saplings, they are set out and watered. "Someday, these oaks will shade the bench," Papa says. "And there, the elm tree will shelter the bandstand." In a quiet corner of the square, Katie and Papa plant a dogwood in memory of Mama. With their work done, they share their food with friends and dogs while a fiddler plays and the moon rises. These neighbors decide to do the same thing the following year and every year after. The passage of time is marked by trees growing tall and the town mellowing. Katie grows up, marries, and has a daughter who holds onto her grandpa's hand as they set out new saplings and have their picnic under a flowering dogwood. The final spread shows a modern town square shaded by mature trees that are enjoyed by grown-ups, children, and dogs. Galbraith's poetic text and Moore's soft watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations re-create those spring days on the prairie when planting trees was cause for celebration. The origin of Arbor Day, first observed in Nebraska in 1872, is explained in the author's note.—Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

Katie, her papa, and their neighbors order 15 trees for their new town on the treeless prairie. When the spindly saplings arrive, Katie doubts that they will ever amount to much, but her father promises that the trees will grow. Adults and children gather to plant and water the new trees. An evening picnic caps off a day so special that the townsfolk decide to celebrate Arbor Day annually. Years later, Katie takes her own daughter to the celebration, and even today, community members plant new trees and picnic under those planted long ago. Nicely geared to a child's perceptions and interests, the story unfolds in short phrases and sentences that read aloud well. Charming, naive illustrations in colored pencil and watercolor give this large-scale picture book great visual appeal. An appended note fills in the history of the holiday and references a related Web site. An attractive introduction to the celebration of Arbor Day. Preschool-Grade 3. --Carolyn Phelan

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers; 1 edition (April 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561455172
• ISBN-13: 978-1561455171
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #946,880 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonder story told by a gifted author!, April 7, 2010

By 

Amy Patterson (Novi, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Arbor Day Square (Hardcover)

I love this book! This is one of my little one's absolute favorites! He insists that we read it together every night. Our family has enjoyed Kathryn Galbraith's other wonderfully written books as well! Traveling Babies, Boo Bunny, and Laura Charlotte are some of our other faves! I highly recommend!

4.0 out of 5 stars Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children, October 21, 2010

By 

Yana V. Rodgers "econkids.rutgers.edu" (New Brunswick, NJ) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Arbor Day Square (Hardcover)

The prairie town Katie had just moved to seemed to be growing by the week, with new stores, a schoolhouse, and trainloads of settlers eager for land. Conspicuously absent, though, were the trees. So the townspeople took up a collection and used the telegraph to order fifteen trees. The arrival of the saplings on the train generated much excitement, as did the settlers' cooperative efforts to plant them. The people wound up celebrating Arbor Day every year as a special day devoted to the planting of new trees that would provide not only building materials and fuel, but also sources of shade and beauty.

Every state and numerous countries now celebrate Arbor Day in a continued effort to replenish the earth's natural resources and protect the environment. While many readers may have heard of Arbor Day and understand that it has to do with planting trees, few are likely to know of the origins of this international holiday. With its pleasant story and engaging illustrations, Arbor Day Square will help young readers to gain a deeper appreciation for this occasion.

5.0 out of 5 stars Warm, interesting story, April 30, 2010

By 

Jayne R. "Seattle reader" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arbor Day Square (Hardcover)

Like the other reviewers, I loved the warm and lyrical feeling of this book. But it was also interesting as a look at Arbor Day. It's not about how Arbor Day got started, but rather how one town celebrated Arbor Day. Even so, there's a good explanation of Arbor Day and how it got started in the back. (Over a million trees were planted in one day.) I also really enjoyed the passage of time and seeing a prairie town get its start and grow over the years. An interesting book on many levels!