Project Description

Picture Books

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Teacher’s Guide

My Mother Talks to Trees

by Doris Gove
illustrated by Marilynn H. Mallory

When Laura’s mom insists on stopping and speaking to trees all along their walk home from school, Laura just hopes no one will notice.

As Laura’s mother greets each tree, mentioning its unique features, Laura grudgingly begins to take note, and slowly her curiosity overcomes her embarrassment. By the time they’re almost home, Laura has made the acquaintance of many special trees in her neighborhood. In the end, she has been infected by her mother’s contagious enthusiasm for nature and she begins to develop her own relationship with the natural world.

Doris Gove’s charming tale will inspire budding young naturalists, and Marilynn Mallory’s full-color illustrations capture the delight of the story and the botanical features of the trees. Easy-to-remember information in the story teaches children how to identify eleven common trees. A glossary at the back of the book provides more details.

Format: Hardcover
Price: $15.95
ISBN: 978-1-56145-166-1
Publication Date: 3/1/1999
Page Count: 32
Size: 8-1/2 ̎ x 10 ̎
Age Range: 4 – 8
Language: English
AR Level: 3.5
F&P: M, Gr 2, Genre RF
Lexile: AD550L
Themes: Observation, Parents, Seasons, Tree Identification

Reviews

“The colorful, softly shaded drawings are particularly graceful in their depiction of trees…teachers will like the information-laden text in picture-book format…. Many teachers will want this for their primary-grade tree units.” ―Booklist

“Gove does a fine job of weaving botanical facts into the light plot of an afternoon walk. The colored-pencil illustrations are pleasing and the pen-and-ink sketches in the glossary give more precise identification data…. [This book] will encourage children to notice and protect the trees around them.” ―School Library Journal

“What a wonderful way to incorporate learning into an everyday activity such as walking home from school. This book jumps off the pages and into real life, and is likely to help our future naturalists learn to recognize different tree species and identify the trees in their own backyards…. This is interactive learning at its best.” ―Library Talk

Awards

Volunteer State Book Awards (Master List, K-3) ―Tennessee Association of School Librarians, 2003-2004

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Meet the Author

Doris Gove is the author of several children’s books, including My Mother Talks to Trees, One Rainy Night, Red-Spotted Newt, and A Water Snake’s Year. She earned an MS and PhD from the University of Tennessee and teaches environmental studies to elementary school children. She lives in Tennessee.

Meet the Illustrator

Marilynn H. Mallory has illustrated articles and field guides and conducted workshops in naturalist painting for elementary school children and teachers. She holds degrees from Tulane University and Florida Atlantic University. She lives in Colorado. You can visit her website here.