A tree is a home

K-Gr 4--This book is a treasure trove of information on the habitat and life cycle of trees. A mature oak tree provides a home for different animals, and six animals are highlighted in this book. Each spread features a season and what changes occur in the tree, as well as each animal's the life cycle. The story starts by presenting where each animal lives and what happens during the fall. Small panels spotlight each critter--.a raccoon, gray squirrel, blue jay, acorn weevil, chipmunk, and opossum. The mixed media illustrations have a soft, almost vintage feel to them. The back matter includes diagrams on the life cycle that will reinforce key concepts from the narrative about the animals and oak tree. Educators will be delighted by the range of key topics and will be able to develop lots of lessons with the book as an anchor text. VERDICT An excellent addition to elementary nonfiction collections and to support units on the life cycles of plants and animals.--Debbie Tanner, S. D. Spady Montessori Elem., FL

As the seasons change, so does the oak tree--and the animals who live in, on, and beneath it. "The big, old oak tree stands tall near the empty house.…Many animals have lived here." This picture book needs plenty of time for reading the text and looking carefully and deeply at the richly colored art. The illustrations are deceptively simple--primitive and childlike, using crayons among other media--but the details go beyond complementing the scientific text. For example, astute readers will see the "sold" sign on the empty house on the verdant, summery initial page. Successive, alternating double-page spreads show first the tree and house on the verso, with brief text that describes seasonal changes in the tree, then present what's happening at the same time in the life cycles of six winsome animals: raccoon, acorn weevil, opossum, gray squirrel, blue jay, chipmunk. All, even the weevils, are depicted with plenty of personality. With each season, each animal peers out from a frame with several sentences about the animal's behavior or appearance. Simple sentences teach new vocabulary through context. By springtime, baby animals have joined several of the inhabitants. Extra joy comes from noticing an interracial family of human beings who move in on the autumn pages, peer out snow-flecked windows in winter, plant a garden in spring, and enjoy the outdoors in summer. And is it only the tree's inhabitants that have added family members? (This book was reviewed digitally.) A sweet, informative journey. (additional facts, glossary, bibliography) (Informational picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.