Customer Reviews

Arbor Day Square

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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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!

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.

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!

Arbor Day Square takes readers back to frontier days on the prairie. While the pioneers like living in their new town, they decide something essential is missing -- trees. They take up a collection and order a large number of trees to be shipped by train. When the trees arrive, a little girl named Katie plants small sapling trees in the new town square along with her father and other townsfolk and farmers. Katie is concerned about the small size of the trees but her father assures her they will grow. Together they plant one very special tree in the corner of the square in memory of Katie's mother. Year after year they continue to plant trees in the town, for future generations to enjoy. The author's note in the back explains the origin and history behind Arbor Day.

This is a wonderful and quaintly illustrated picture book to share with children, and it is especially useful for teaching about Arbor Day. Arbor Day Square really captures the essence of what Arbor Day is about, kids and adults planting trees together for future generations to enjoy. My daughter was already familiar with the pioneer days through reading Little House on the Prairie books, and she quickly caught on to the similarities. She especially liked how the little girl planted a special tree in memory of her mother and loved how the book ends. (Review copy provided by publisher)

Like a constantly changing spring garden, this is a book the young and young at heart will want to visit again and again. Woven through the layers of warm illustrations and evocative writing is a story with heart.

I have long been a fan of Kathryn O. Galbraith's warm and pitch-perfect picture books. Arbor Day Square is a delightful and long-awaited addition to my collection. This story celebrates community and family and gives a glimpse into pioneer life on the prairie.

Please note: the current product description on this page is inaccurate. Arbor Day Square is not about the origins of Arbor Day but an imagined (and imaginative!) story illustrating one town's response to that holiday.

I am delighted with Kathryn O. Galbraith's latest book. I spent my childhood enjoying the author's books, including Katie Did! and Something Suspicious. Now, I am thrilled to share her modern collection, including such treasures as Traveling Babies and Boo, Bunny!, with my own daughter. Arbor Day Square is Ms. Galbraith's latest gem. This sweet story - complemented by beautiful illustrations by Cyd Moore - is her fictional recounting of the origins of Arbor Day. This tale of prairie days encourages even the youngest reader to care for the environment and cherish community and family. Ms. Galbraith has been an accomplished children's author for decades, and I am thrilled that her latest book is another that my family will enjoy for years to come.