Grandpa and Me on Tu B'Shevat

November 1, 2004
K-Gr 3-Tu B'Shevat, a minor Jewish holiday, is celebrated in January or February and commemorates the environmental need to plant new trees. In a cumulative rhyme la "The House That Jack Built," a little boy and his grandfather plant a seedling and watch it develop into an apple tree as they grow older, passing on to succeeding generations the tradition of caring for the tree and enjoying its fruit. The rhyme reads aloud well and is complemented by very basic block-style watercolors showing a little boy's development into a man who eventually becomes a grandparent, and a tree that is also changing and maturing. A much-needed book for a holiday that is recognized with a minimal amount of literature on the shelf.-Rita Soltan, Oakland University, Rochester, MI

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2004
PreS-Gr. 2. Using rhyming cumulative verse reminiscent of "This Is the House That Jack Built," Gold-Vukson describes how a boy and his grandfather plant a tree to celebrate the Jewish New Year for Trees or Tu B'Shevat. They dig a hole, plant a seed, and then water and tend the young sapling. Years later they picnic in the shade, enjoy a bird's song, and taste the juicy apples the tree provides. At the end, the boy has grown up and has a grandson of his own with whom he can continue the tradition. Evan's bold woodcut-style illustrations are perfectly suited to this naturalistic story and in keeping with the holiday's tone. Varied perspectives, some from the top of the tree, help to showcase the tree's attributes and the pleasure it affords. A good choice for read-alouds about the celebration, this can also be used with books about Earth Day or Arbor Day celebrations to provide cultural comparison. A list of 10 ways to celebrate the holiday is appended.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)