Review: A Tree for Emmy by Mary Ann Rodman and Tatjana Mai-Wyss

Title: A Tree for Emmy
Author: Mary Ann Rodman
Illustrator: Tatjana Mai-Wyss
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Pages: 32
Publisher: Peachtree Publishers (March 1, 2009)
Genre: Children's Book
Edition: Hardback - Many thanks to Peachtree Publishers for sending me a copy to review for Children's Book Week!



Perfect for : Personal reading, children's story time, gift book

In a nutshell: The fun story of Emmy, who is "stubborn and strong and a little bit wild," just like a mimosa tree. She loves the fuzzy pink blossoms on her Grandmother's mimosa tree, and for her birthday wants a tree of her own. When they eventually find a baby mimosa tree at her Grandmother's house, her parents help her take it home and plant it so that it can eventually grow to be "stubborn and strong and a little bit wild," just like Emmy. This is a fun story, with whimsical illustrations that bring out the best in nature and Emmy. Tatjana Mai-Wyss has cleverly combined both watercolor and pictures within her illustrations (Emmy's sweater is drawn on the page, and filled with an actual cable design from a real sweater, The flowers in a flower pot are filled with pictures of real flowers).

From OC Family:


Extended Review:
Characters: Emmy is "stubborn and strong and a little bit wild," just like a mimosa tree, or at least Grandma thinks so! Grandma is very lovable, with her green striped socks and pointy purple glasses. . . and Mom and Dad are loving and supportive parents.

Story-Line: A fun story of Emmy, as she explores nature, plays in a mimosa tree, has a birthday and learns to care for her own little mimosa tree so it can grow "stubborn and strong and a little bit wild," just like her.

Illustrations: The full-color pages are full of bright colors and beautiful examples from nature (trees, flowers, butterflies, etc) and family! A combination of watercolors and pictures makes the illustrations come to life.

Readability: Each page is easy to read and the story moves along nicely.

Overall: A fun and entertaining book with plenty of opportunity to explore nature and family. Read along as Emmy explores, has a birthday, and learns to nurture a tree of her own so it can grow to be "stubborn and strong and a little bit wild," just like her!

From the Publisher:
“I declare, Emmy,” said Gramma. “That mimosa tree is a lot like you. Stubborn and strong and a little bit wild.”

Emmy loves trees. She loves oak trees with acorns. She loves pine trees with cones, and willow trees with swishy branches. But best of all, Emmy loves the mimosa tree that grows in her grandmother’s pasture. Emmy swings on its branches, plays with its fuzzy pink blossoms, and rattles its seedpods like maracas.

But when Emmy decides she wants a mimosa tree of her own for her birthday, she is dismayed to find that many grown-ups do not share her enthusiasm. Garden stores only sell ornamental trees like plum or pear or tulip trees.

Emmy is crushed—until she discovers that the answer to her problem is growing right before her eyes!

This joyful story of a spirited young girl’s steadfast affection for a wild mimosa tree will appeal to all who cherish a special dream, and will help readers appreciate the natural world around them. Illustrator Tatjana Mai-Wyss’s whimsical watercolor and collage illustrations capture Emmy’s exuberant personality and the story’s hopeful ending.

About the Author: (from the publisher's site)
MARY ANN RODMAN, a former school media specialist, is the author of Yankee Girl and My Best Friend. She has received both the Ezra Jack Keats Award for Outstanding New Picture Book Writer and the Charlotte Zolotow Award. She lives in Georgia
You can visit Mary Ann Rodman's website at: www.maryannrodman.com

Tatjana Mai-Wyss was born in Switzerland. She has illustrated a number of picture books, including The Yawn Heard Round the World, The Lemon Sisters, and You Have to Be Nice to Someone on Their Birthday. She lives in South Carolina.

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