Beatrice Was a Tree: An Imaginative Science Book About Trees for Kids (Ages 4-8)

Beatrice dreams of becoming a tree. She grows roots and leaves,
and she stretches her branches toward the sky.

From Joyce Hesselberth, the award-winning creator of Mapping
Sam and Pitter Pattern, Beatrice Was a Tree introduces young
readers to everything there is to know about trees. This beautifully
illustrated informational picture book is an exceptional choice for home as
well as classroom sharing. Includes backmatter about the science of trees.

When it’s time to go to
bed, Beatrice imagines how much fun it would be to stay outside with the trees
all night long. If she were a tree, she would have a trunk and branches and
lots of leaves. Her roots would reach deep. She would catch the morning sun with
her limbs and cradle a bird’s nest in her branches. And when the air turned
crisp, Beatrice would wait patiently for spring.

Beatrice Was a Tree is a great
read-aloud that illuminates the importance of trees to our planet. This picture
book includes information about tree anatomy, shows how trees change with each
season, gives a simple explanation of photosynthesis, and includes a checklist
of animals that appear throughout the story. A perfect pick for language arts
and science classrooms, as well as story time.

K-Gr 2—Look at the trees. Beginning with labeled leaf shapes on end pages, the reader's eye moves on to stylized folk art images of trees and the fluid movements of fair-skinned, dark-haired Beatrice as she climbs a tree, hangs upside down, and briefly tries to ignore the call to come in for the night. She can easily visualize staying outside the full night: "If I were a tree…." Her arms grow into tree shape with trunk and bark, with branches and leaves that move with the breeze. Birds catch the morning sun, squirrels appear, followed by caterpillars, deer, spiders, and a sleepy owl. The tree then sends roots to burrow into soil with earthworms, chipmunks, vole, and mice. As Beatrice dreams of her tree, each page brings the reader a new seasonal digital collage with watercolor, acrylic, and gouache, ending with brief simple sentences and the quiet of fallen snow. An infographic page emphasizes how animals use trees, including a labeled diagram of tree parts, the seasons, an explanation of photosynthesis, and encouragement to plant. VERDICT A suggested general purchase for all libraries, the book is a lovely art tribute to the beauty of trees through Beatrice's dream—interrupted by a persistent voice and the annoying final call, "Beatrice, Bed! Now!"—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano I.S.D., TX