Picture a Tree — Perfect Picture Book Friday

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Title: Picture a Tree

Author/Illustrator: Barbara Reid

Publisher: Toronto: North Winds/Scholastic Canada, 2011

Genre: Picture book

Audience Age: 3 – 9 years

Themes/topics: different ways of seeing or describing a tree, nature, trees, variety

Opening Sentences: There is more than one way to picture a tree.

Synopsis: Through her incredible plasticine art (yes, the cover art above is all plasticine, which is a brand of modeling clay!), and her imaginative, evocative text, Canadian author/illustrator Barbara Reid shows a myriad of ways to think of trees.  For example, a street with trees that form an arch over the roadway is a tunnel, while a little boy looking out over the city’s trees from his apartment balcony sees an ocean. Barbara Reid always astonishes me with her illustrations, which are plasticine embellished here and there with a touch of paint. My favorite spread in this book, “A tree can be a high-rise home sweet home,” not only shows many different creatures (animals, birds, wasps, and a kite) living in the tree, but also depicts in detail the high-rise building behind it, with a scene in every window – all in plasticine. I suppose technically this is a concept book, as there is no central character and no story line, but it is a concept book of the highest order.

Activities/Resources: A walk outdoors, whether in country or city, to look at trees and think of ways to describe them as Reid does in her book would be an excellent activity to pair with a reading of the book.

Barbara Reid’s website has a video that shows kids how to make a basic tree illustration from plasticine. One can also view the trailer for Picture a Tree, and watch a video about the making of the book which features the spread I mentioned above. There’s also a memory game on that page.

Having children make their own plasticine pictures, following Barbara Reid’s instructions, would be a perfect ending to a Picture a Tree day.

Availability: Some availability of the 2011 edition in Canada. Picture a Tree will be re-released in March 2013, and is available for pre-order.

 

Every Friday, bloggers join together to share picture book reviews and resources, thanks to author Susanna Leonard Hill’s brainchild, “Perfect Picture Book Fridays.” Susanna then adds the books (and links to the reviews) to a comprehensive listing by subject on her blog. Find the entire listing at her “Perfect Picture Books.”

 

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30 thoughts on “Picture a Tree — Perfect Picture Book Friday”

    1. Beth

      All Barbara Reid’s art is plasticine, (photographed, of course, not actual plasticine on the book!) — and after you said you’d had to google plasticine, I put a link to Barbara’s explanation of it. I grew up playing with it, so didn’t realize others wouldn’t know right away what it was. Her art is amazing.

  2. Patricia Tilton

    When I saw the title, I guessed you were the reviewer. Lovely choice and I love the author’s many ways to think about trees. A beautiful share with children. Will help them think of trees differently. Also had to look up plasticine.

  3. Julie Rowan-Zoch

    Before I clicked on your link, I had an idea-flash and now I’ll have to read it so I don’t write the same story (would have anyway, since your right up is so intriguing!).

    1. Beth

      I’m sure you’d come at the story from a different angle than Barbara Reid did, but I do hope you’ll read the book, as it’s such a good one!

    1. Beth

      I wasn’t familiar with Suzanne del Rizzo’s work, so I googled. Yes, it’s similar, but I hope you’ll take a look at Barbara Reid’s work — she is incredible!

  5. janet

    A great review! I see that you must like trees alot. Me too! And I actually have this book on my wish list! The pictures are just too fantastic!

    1. Beth

      You will love the book. I’m totally confident in saying that. I do love trees — I also love Barbara Reid’s work, I’ve been a Reid admirer for years and years. Enjoy the book!

  7. Laura Renauld

    Beautiful! And what amazing illustrations. It reminds me a bit of Skytree. I’ll have to post that sometime 🙂

    1. Beth

      Oh, how wonderful to attend a seminar featuring Barbara Reid! I, too, love all her books. Isn’t she absolutely amazing?

  10. Susanna Leonard Hill

    This looks great, Beth! I love books that encourage readers to look at things from a different perspective and consider other options. The art sounds amazing – I’d like to see it! Thanks so much for adding this to our list!

  12. Vivian Kirkfield

    Thank you for sharing such a great book, Beth. Over thirty years ago, I wrote a little picture book for my children called, “The Maple Tree”…I’ll have to try to find it (in some box somewhere, unless it was dumped during a move). I love books about nature…and this one incorporates art…perfect! The resource list looks wonderful. 🙂

    1. Beth

      Thanks, Diane. It seems as though people in Commonwealth countries are most familiar with plasticine. I loved it, too! At Christmas I’ll post my one attempt as an adult at plasticine art.

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