November 23, 2015
A boxy orange tree, growing in the middle of a courtyard, shoos away the local wildlife, “afraid that one of his beautiful leaves might fall.” Composed of simple, brightly colored shapes, Costa’s (Olga the Cloud) mixed-media pictures are the story’s main draw, along with spontaneous comments from animal onlookers. “Go away,” the tree says (his only spoken words) in the springtime. “What an unpleasant tree,” remarks a fairy-like butterfly in response. Devastated when his leaves change color and begin to drop in the fall, the vain tree is consoled by a crow, who tells him about the cycle of seasons and reassures him that spring will bring him new leaves “more beautiful than ever.” This inspires the tree to make a promise (presumably to be more kind, though it goes unstated), and when spring returns, birds, cats, snails, and other creatures cluster in and around its branches. The straightforward language and pared-down cartooning keep the book’s emotions at arm’s length, but readers already aware of how the changing seasons affect plant life will still be able to feel smarter than the naïve tree. Ages 3–6.
November 15, 2015
A little tree is protectively proprietary about his leaves until late autumn surprises him. Costa has a lovely way with her artwork; she makes the nuance of color, form, and design look childlike and so welcomes readers to take up brushes and paint along with the story. This takes place in what looks like one of the Cinque Terre hilltop villages in Italy. In the village square stands a young tree that is tasting his first springtime. Leaves! How wonderful! But the tree doesn't like the other creatures to perch on his limbs or relax in his shade. He worries that they may damage his fine new leaves. "Go away." Not exactly the Dale Carnegie approach, and the other creatures take offense. The seasons progress, summer brings a fright wig of leaves (think Phyllis Diller as an oak tree), then autumn turns them a radiant gold, then winter--poof! All gone. The tree is bereft. A crow comes to explain things (the text here is sparse, quietly emotive, and revealing). "She told the little tree that, come spring, his leaves would sprout again, stronger and more beautiful than ever. The little tree breathed a sigh of relief and made a promise." Nothing like a little scare to mend your petty ways, but this is so quietly approached, it doesn't feel like medicine at all. A smart story of good news leading to grace. (Picture book. 3-6)
COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
January 1, 2016
PreS-Gr 1-A young city tree loves its luscious new green foliage so much it refuses to let any of the local critters near it. "He won't even share his shade," the birds complain. All summer long the birds, the cats, the butterflies, the insects, and even the snails are denied the enjoyment of the tree. When autumn arrives, the inexperienced tree fears it must be very sick as all of its wonderful foliage changes color and falls off. Luckily, a clever crow educates the tree about the cycle of the seasons. With this new knowledge, the tree makes a promise that he fulfills the following spring and summer when he welcomes everyone "to celebrate among his branches." In addition to the text, Costa uses speech bubbles to give a voice to the annoyed animals. Costa's biography says her intent is to create illustrations children can imitate and draw themselves, and in this she has succeeded admirably. Her folksy artwork is bright and cheery and uses simple shapes and perspectives with lots of whimsy. VERDICT This versatile Italian import could be used to inspire budding artists, teach seasons, or give a lesson on sharing and can simply be enjoyed as a picture book about a silly tree.-Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2016
Grades K-2 The original title of this winsome picture book, L'albero vanitoso, first published in Italy, clues us in to the tree's main failing: it's vain. The little tree is extremely proud of its new leaves and rejects the butterflies, birds, and cats that try to rest in his branches (cartoon bubbles give their reactions: How rude! and He thinks he's better than everyone ). But when the season begins to turn, the tree grows slightly traumatized. In autumn, his beautiful leaves turn yellow and start to fall. The crisis only deepens when winter arrives, leaving the tree naked and fearful. Luckily spring returns to find a wiser, more generous tree. Costa's india ink, acrylic paint, and pastel illustrations are both comic and charming, and children will be drawn to the way she uses simple lines and geometric shapes. The ending is inspiring, and its message deeper than a mere injunction to share. Readers may want to try Anna Dewdney's Llama Llama Time to Share (2012) or Costa's Olga the Cloud (2014).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)
January 1, 2017
In this moralistic tale, a tree refuses to share his beautiful green leaves with birds, butterflies, etc. When the leaves turn yellow and fall off, he is distraught, until a crow explains the seasons; when the leaves return, the tree is ready to share. A clunky text is offset by bright, spacious illustrations that imbue the tree with recognizable emotions.
(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)