Sunday, April 28, 2013

"A Tree for Emmy" by Mary Ann Rodman & illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss (Review & Giveaway)

ISBN: 9781561454754
Hardcover - $15.95
About the book:  "I declare, Emmy," said Gramma. "That mimosa tree is a lot like you. Stubborn and strong and a little bit wild."

Emmy loves trees. She loves oak trees with acorns. She loves pine trees with cones, and willow trees with swishy branches. But best of all, Emmy loves the mimosa tree that grows in her grandmother’s pasture. Emmy swings on its branches, plays with its fuzzy pink blossoms, and rattles its seedpods like maracas.

But when Emmy decides she wants a mimosa tree of her own for her birthday, she is dismayed to find that many grown-ups do not share her enthusiasm. Garden stores only sell ornamental trees like plum or pear or tulip trees.

Emmy is crushed—until she discovers that the answer to her problem is growing right before her eyes!

This joyful story of a spirited young girl’s steadfast affection for a wild mimosa tree will appeal to all who cherish a special dream, and will help readers appreciate the natural world around them. Illustrator Tatjana Mai-Wyss’s whimsical watercolor and collage illustrations capture Emmy’s exuberant personality and the story’s hopeful ending.

My thoughts:  The book presents an interesting lesson about variety of trees. Note: it is not a tree book or a truly instructional book about trees, leaves, seeds, etc.  The story revolves around Emmy, a little girl full of energy and who her grandmother describes as stubborn and wild.  Grandmother also describes the Mimosa tree as stubborn and wild.  Describing a will-growing tree that is hard to get rid of is one thing. To describe a child as stubborn and wild and consider it a positive trait is hard to understand as a favorable trait.

It is true that stubbornness in a child is indicative of a strong will which when guided and tempered with control can lead to a strong leader in adult life.  However, to praise a child for being stubborn and wild without tempering it with controls and leadership by the adults in the child's life can only lead to an adult that is a loose cannon and that is a destructive leader.

Now the story is cute in that Emmy wants one of the pretty Mimosa trees (I, too, think they are beautiful and wouldn't mind having one in my yard.). So that is what Emmy asks for as her birthday present. She and her parents look and look but cannot find one to purchase since they are considered "wild" trees. They return to grandmother's and Emmy finds a little, tiny shoot of a Mimosa tree which they dig up and take home to plant.  Emmy learns that she must protect her new seedling and care for it even though it is a wild tree.

As I said, the story is cute and Emmy learns a little about trees and young trees.  The book is pretty and the illustrations are very nice.  Emmy looks like a loveable and delectably irresistible child. I can see the book being used to teach the tenacity of wild trees and how they are stubbornly difficult to rid oneself of. I can also see object lessons on stubbornness in a child being drawn from the story by astute adults.

GIVEAWAY: Peachtree Publishers has graciously provided the opportunity for one of Chat With Vera's readers to win a copy of A Tree for Emmy. Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.  Begins April 29 & ENDS May 14 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT. Open to USA mailing addresses only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of A Tree for Emmy" from Peachtree Publishers in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own.

31 comments:

  1. I was going to try planting an avocado tree, and pretending to my husband that I have no idea how it got there. ;)

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  2. My baby girl is 9 1/2 months old, she's rolling and army crawling everywhere, and she has TWO bottom teeth now. She's always happy and smiling! She's trying to figure out how to get things down from tables and the couch, and she's not really crawling, just rolling and scooting. She's so smart though, she's already been using the pinching grasp since she was 6 months old, and that's early for babies to do!

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  3. My favorite tree has been gone for 15 years or so. When I was little my Grandpa put a swing on an old black cherry tree. I loved that old tree.
    amyc

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  4. A happy thought for me today is that my little ones didn't get out of bed until after 8 this morning. Most of the time they are up by 6. Oh, what bliss! :)
    amyc

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  5. My favorite tree is the female sycamore tree - they produce these spiky balls that are great for craft projects.

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  6. happy thought - enjoy moments with your kids - they will remember them more that whatever things you got them

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  7. My kids would like The Last Castaways book.
    hschonrock at yahoo dot com

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  8. I love a willow tree! No yard for one until we move. Thank you!

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  9. I also like Stripes of All Types

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  10. My favorite tree is Weeping Willows and Memosa's

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  11. Happy thought: My daughter's 9th birthday is this weekend and I am having a blast planning her party!

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  12. I am planing on planting a umbrella tree

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  13. "happy thought".... May you wake each morning with a song in your heart.

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  14. I know most people DON'T like them, but I love sweet gum trees.

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  15. I love any flowering tree

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  16. Happy Thought: all you need is love.

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  17. Thank you for being honest in your review!

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  18. yes we love lilacs and have a great big one in the back yard we are getting ready to plant some hydreangeas...something like that...in the front and around the sides of the house...

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  19. happy thought i love to wake up in the morning and look at my kids and enjoy your kisses and hugs good bye as they leave to go to school...cant wait for them to be home for the summer....

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  20. back to bed ed looks like a good book

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  21. My happy though is my grandkids, i love to see them smile, and hear them laugh

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  22. i love a maple tree, love to see the leaves change colors

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  23. happy thought, see grandkids smile and laugh

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  24. In the spring, my favorite tree is the Dogwood, but in the fall, it is the Maple Tree! ... and yes I have planted many trees.
    Kathy Davis
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

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  25. May God Bless You!
    Kathy Davis
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

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  26. Beautiful Bananas sounds fun!

    orangestar17(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  27. My favorite tree: The Apple Tree
    I love apple picking!

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  28. My Happy Thought: I am going home soon for summer vacation from school to see my family! Perhaps some of you are visiting family in the summer? :)

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