The Cow Who Climbed a Tree ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

The cow who climbed a tree!

By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

The Cow Who Climbed a Tree
Story and Illustrations by Gemma Merino
(Albert Whitman & Company, 2015)

Aha! Who wouldn't love a cow who climbed a tree?

And why would this cow climb a tree anyway? Really? Just picture it.

The Cow Who Climbed a Tree is a wonderfully illustrated book about a cow who was insatiably curious. About everything.

Her sisters? They were only interested in grass.

But this cow had more exciting things on her mind. What about this? Or that? Why not this?

One could say that this cow, Tina, had a great and wondering imagination, to which her sisters always replied with scorn: Impossible, ridiculous, nonsense.

But The Cow Who Climbed a Tree did not give up.

I love this story about a cow who kept dreaming and exploring and doing in spite of the lack of belief from those around her. I think young readers will be encouraged to hold onto and follow their dreams regardless of what others think.

Go, Cow!

KID KANDY:

Climb a Tree
(If you don't have a tree, paint one with watercolors! I fell in love with the illustrations in this picture book. Paint me a tree like Gemma did!)

Head outside and find a strong, tall tree. Make sure you have good pants and a shirt on to protect your knees and skin.

Climb that tree! Pretend you are Tina, a cow, and you are going to climb that tree. Of course you don't have a tail or cloven hooves, but you can pretend!

Look for finger and toe holds. Rest against the trunk and sitting on top of branches. Watch out for pitch - it's very sticky. See how high you can get before you are too far.

Was it fun?

I used to be a champion tree climber. I've put holes in many a pair of pants from stray branches and broken off bits. And it was never as easy getting down as it was getting up. So do be careful.

The Promise ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

The Promise by Nicola Davies

The Promise
By Nicola Davies
Illustrated by Laura Carlin
(Candlewick Press, 2013)

A young girl lived in a dead city. Gray, lifeless, hard, concrete, no plants. To survive, she had to steal. Her heart was as hard as the city.

But one night, the girl tried to steal a nice, fat bag from a woman who walked all alone down the street. The woman resisted long enough to make the girl "promise" to plant all of them.

All of them turned out to be not food and money as she had supposed, but an entire forest in a bag!

The girl kept her promise and wandered the city, planting acorns as she went. Slowly, as the trees sprouted and grew, the city was transformed. So was the girl.

The Promise is a story about hope. It is also about the healing properties of nature on green-less areas. Readers will be encouraged to enjoy the green in their lives and seek to add more where there is none.

KID KANDY:
Plant a Seed

Materials: seeds, trowel or spade, water

1. There are so many seeds. You could choose any type you want to plant. Just consider if you want plants that grow quickly (flowers, vegetables, grasses) or those that take years to mature (trees, bushes).

2. Find the perfect location. Dig a little hole and add seeds (or seed). Cover with soil and water.

3. Watch and wait.

While you are waiting, ask an adult to help you check the the Arbor Day Foundation (Arbor Day Foundation). This group loves to plant trees and educate families about the importance of trees. I am a member and each year when I pay my dues, I can ask for baby trees. Right now I have several that are ready to be planted in the ground. Yay!

Redwoods - Nature Picture Books

Redwoods
Written and Illustrated By Jason Chin
(Flashpoint, Roaring Brook Press, 2009)

I discovered Redwoods while perusing the library in the children's area. And what a delightful find it was!

Redwoods, written and illustrated by Jason Chin, is a beautifully illustrated and very informative book about the giant redwoods. Not just educational, but entertaining.

A young boy sitting on a bench discovers a book about redwoods. This book in fact. He begins reading the book Redwoods (while he is in the book Redwoods). He is soon joined by a tiny squirrel (look for the squirrel in every page) as he learns all he can about the giant redwoods.

I love how Chin shows the importance and excitement of learning through books. I also love how the cycle begins anew when the boy leaves the book on a bench. A girl soon picks it up and begins reading about redwoods.

This is the perfect book to read if you are planning a trip to see the redwoods. Or even if you are not.

KID KANDY:

Visit a Forest

Take your child for a walk in the forest. Truly experience the forest.

~ Smell the trees, soil, plants, and all there is that tickles your nose.

~ Touch the tree bark, ferns, moss, and other forest inhabitants. (Avoid mushrooms and wild animals!)

~ Close your eyes and listen. What can you hear? Wind? Animals? Airplanes? Cars? Your breathing?

~ How far can you see through the trees? Look at forest plants up close. Count how many nature items you can see.

~ Take pictures or draw pictures of what you find in the forest.

~ Go to the library or bookstore and find more books about the forest and redwoods.


Angie Quantrell has visited the amazing redwoods many times. They never cease to amaze and thrill her.