Zee Grows a Tree [hc]
Written by Elizabeth Rusch & illustrated by Will Hillenbrand [Ohio]
On the morning little Zee Cooper is born, a Douglas-fir seedling emerges from the nursery bed at her family’s Christmas tree farm. As she and the tree grow up together, they experience many of the same milestones. When she starts preschool, her tree is ready to start life outside the nursery. As she outgrows all her clothes, her tree grows taller, too. When Zee gets a whole new look for kindergarten, her tree gets a spiffy transformation as well. And as the years go on, she takes loving care of her tree, watering it through heat waves and protecting it from winter winds.
Combining interesting details about how trees are grown and cared for on a farm with the sweet story of a friendship between a girl and her special tree, Zee Grows a Tree offers a blend of fiction and nonfiction that will draw the interest of young nature lovers everywhere. In the back of the book, readers will find an index, bibliography, and an author’s note suggesting some ways to enjoy a holiday tree without cutting one down. 32 pages
"This title is a brilliant combination of storytelling and factual information. The narrative celebrates a caring family and a young girl’s growing love of nature. The information adds to readers’ understanding and appreciation of the natural world. Highly recommended." -School Library Journal, Starred Review (Kindergarten-Grade 3)
"Informative factual text about Douglas firs and their care accompanies each stage of Zee’s and her tree’s parallel growth while gentle, realistic illustrations, rendered in soft color washes, visually chronicle their emerging relationship... A delightful blend of fact and fiction." -Kirkus Reviews (Ages 5-8)
March 23, 2021
Can be signed and personalized by the illustrator
Watch the book trailer!
