A tree starts out as a small green leafy growth peeking through the floorboards of young Penny’s kitchen. Before the sprout emerged, Penny’s family was always racing from one activity to another, but the tree makes everyone pause and begin to take their time. Scanlon and Vernick’s appealing, straightforward text celebrates the power of nature as the whole family becomes more grounded and joyful. The final pages show the tree in a blaze of autumn color, spreading out into the front lawn and beyond. A reminder to slow down and appreciate both nature and life.
Description
Nothing ever really happens at Penny’s house. It’s all hurry in and hurry out again. But then, something wonderful and unexpected appears that gets everyone’s attention. It starts out small, just a seed, then grows and grows until it’s simply too big to ignore: a tree!
Every day, the tree gets a little taller, a little leafier, and a lot more special. And every day, as they care for the tree, Penny’s family starts to hurry out less and stay in more. Could something else be shifting in Penny’s house, something much more than a tree?
Reviews
*Always on the go, Penny’s family never slows down. When “something happens, something that gets everyone’s attention.” At first only Penny and the dog seem to notice, as the grown-ups have so many things to attend to. The tree grows rapidly and takes over the family’s house, sending roots into the basement and branches out through the roof. The family that once had to rush from one thing to another learns to slow down and “they are more in and less out. And way less hurried.” By the conclusion of this gently humorous and thoroughly recognizable tale for today’s overprogrammed families, a sense of calm and connectivity has spread through this family. Readers who feel the frantic pace of modern life will be left wishing for a tree to take root in their own kitchens. Illustrations are done in a mix of watercolor patterns, textures, and digital drawings, capturing the young sapling, the frenetic pace of the family, and the eventual development of peace and harmony. By the conclusion, the tree’s fall foliage envelopes the family in glorious color and a sense of tranquility. An absolute winner with comic touches and tenderness that will speak to a generation of readers who are part of families that are “on the go” and yet looking for an alternative to the pace of modern life. Highly recommended.
*Collaborators Garton Scanlon and Vernick highlight the importance of mindfully slowing down in this grounding account of a tree that sprouts up in the middle of a family’s residence and refocuses their priorities. The nature-centered payoff—stargazing, leaf-peeping, enjoying hobbies in a dreamy new spot, plus a literal and metaphorical sense of rootedness—feels meaningfully perspicacious.
Overscheduled youngsters and their adults will find this a reminder to put the calendar away and go touch grass.
