________________ CM . . . . Volume XVIII Number 10 . . . . November 4, 2011

cover

Picture a Tree.

Barbara Reid.
Toronto, ON: North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada, 2011.
30 pp., hardcover, $19.99.
ISBN 978-1-4431-0761-7.

Subject Heading:
Trees-Juvenile literature.

Preschool-grade 1 / Ages 3-5.

Review by Inderjit Deogun.

**** /4

   

excerpt:

There is more than one way to picture a tree.

You may see a drawing on the sky.

A game of dress up.

The first drops of colour ... then all the art supplies at once.


"There is more than one way to picture a tree" is the opening sentence of Barbara Reid's newest release, Picture a Tree. The line promises an adventure and definitely does not disappoint. Between the pages of this picture book, readers are given the opportunity to explore their world in a whole new way.

internal art      Reid's signature Plasticine style brings each line of text to life. The three dimensional nature of her artwork, coupled with vibrant colours, allows each illustration to burst off the page. Furthermore, Reid's artistic expertise is evident in her beautifully subtle depictions which are interspersed throughout.

      Picture a Tree masterfully couples the life cycle of a tree with that of people young and old. Reid's poignant text echoes images we often fail to register though we "see" them everyday. A tree is no longer simply a tree but "[a] pirate ship, a bear cave, a clubhouse, a friend." Reid invites her young readers to see the true majesty of nature's bounty. The greatest achievement of Picture a Tree is that it urges young readers to experience the outdoors and see for themselves the many wonders it beholds.

Highly Recommended.

Toronto, ON's Inderjit Deogun is currently pursuing a career in publishing with a particular interest in children's literature.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364
Hosted by the University of Manitoba.
 

NEXT REVIEW | TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - November 4, 2011.

AUTHORS | TITLES | MEDIA REVIEWS | PROFILES | BACK ISSUES | SEARCH | CMARCHIVE | HOME