A TREE WORTH READING

THE DRAGON TREE by Jane Langton is not about dragons. This is the story about a family of free-thinkers, an evil tree inspector, and a girl kept captive in an attic. You would think that these things would have absolutely nothing to do with each other. But they are all brought together by a magical tree that grows foot by foot in a matter of minutes, with leaves that tell stories and fruit that feeds body and mind. It's a quick read for a chapter book, with a lot of excitement and some political activism thrown in for your reading pleasure. Plus, you get to learn a little bit about Henry David Thoreau. A great read for 4th grade and up.

TO GIVE OR NOT TO GIVE

This has been one of my favorite books of all time. I am not sure if now I like this book as much as I liked it before. Since as we grow our perceptions of things change in our lives as much as the tree changes in this particular story. The story is about a boy and a tree. The tree loves the boy unconditionally and it literally gives everything that it can offer to the him. However, the boy is not as gracious as he should have been. He only remembers the tree only when in need of something. If you are in the mood to read something really sad than this book is for you. THE GIVING TREE by SHEL SILVERSTEIN is one that you will enjoy only if you are in a super happy mood, since after reading it you might not be as cheery as you might have wanted.

For grades four and up.