The Tree [Hardcover]

Karen Gray Ruelle (Author), Deborah Durland DeSaix (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

This stunningly illustrated picture book takes a fascinating journey through time as it imagines the beginnings of New York City's oldest Elm. In the heart of New York City stands a great, proud Elm tree. Stronger than any skyscraper, this tree witnessed the very beginnings of the city's settlement, it has persisted through vast fires and long wars, and it has stood tall as the city has grown even taller around it. Now 250 years old, this Elm serves to remind us of the majesty of Mother Nature and the wonders she can create with something so small as a seed. In this affectingly told and beautifully illustrated volume, Karen Gray Ruelle and Deborah Durland DeSaix imagine what might have been the beginnings of this grand tree.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2–5—More than 250 years ago, an elm tree took root in land that is now part of Madison Square Park in New York City. Ruelle and DeSaix offer verbal and visual views of some of the events that have occurred around the tree since then. Over the years, the area has served as a potter's field for unfortunates such as yellow fever victims, a campground for Civil War soldiers, and a gathering spot for political demonstrations. At various times, an orphanage, railroad station, baseball field, upscale hotel, and hippodrome have existed nearby. Because so much has happened in the area, the text must race through the list of events without space to provide much detail about any of them. A pictorial time line underneath the large illustrations offers an idea of the passage of time. Dark colors and grainy shadings give many of the paintings a gloomy appearance. Three pages of historical notes will be useful for teachers who want to use the book to illustrate how communities change through time. Bruce Hiscock's The Big Tree (S & S, 1994), which features the life of a sugar maple in the New York countryside, might work as an interesting companion to this work, for teachers who wish to compare and contrast urban and rural development. In short, although Ruelle's book is unlikely to attract casual readers, it could serve as a supplemental curriculum resource.—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

An elm tree grows in what becomes New York City’s Madison Square. This account is more than the history of a particular tree, however. It is also the story of how a neighborhood and park developed around it. The beginning, the tree growing from a seedpod dropped by a chipmunk, is speculation. Later developments are documented. Solemn and muted watercolor and rubbed-oil-paint illustrations, covering a page and a half of each double-page spread, give a historical feel. The palate is dark at times, but an occasional element in the illustrations seems to glow. And although the tree does not usually appear prominently on the page, a likeness of it is depicted subtly behind a text that is longer than that of many picture books, with one to two paragraphs per double page. With text, illustrations, and a pictorial time line pleasingly balanced on the pages, this is a handsome work on a subject that will have appeal to many children. Historical note appended. Grades K-3. --Randall Enos

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House (September 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823419045
• ISBN-13: 978-0823419043
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,947,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superbly illustrated in a soft, impressionist art style, September 7, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tree (Hardcover)

The Tree is a wonderful children's picturebook about an elm tree that has stood within New York City for more than 250 years. It was a sapling during the city's early settlement, and it survived plague, fire, and war. It lasted longer than many a great building constructed nearby, including the first two Madison Square Gardens. Superbly illustrated in a soft, impressionist art style, The Tree celebrates American history as well as reverence for nature. Highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Secret of Life, March 7, 2009

By 

Catherine W. Hughes (Cambridge, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Tree (Hardcover)

Delightful description dances, as a seed pod grows into an elm tree in what is to become Madison Square Park. Seasons pass and turn to years. The elm tree stands and beholds the passage of time. First comes a cemetery, then an arsenal for soldiers, after that a fire, and finally, a park. Circus animals thunder, and a Statue of Liberty arm is built to stand watch alongside of the tree. The tree becomes a landmark, and around it a bustling city grows. Who knows when a new seed pod will take root? A calming look at how time passes and nature transcends. A perfect story for children ages 5-8.