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My Mother Talks to Trees is about a little girl named Laura and her
mother, who talks to trees. While walking home from school, Laura’s mother talks to each
tree, examines its flowers and leaves, and tries to teach Laura more about them. Laura is
embarrassed by her mother’s behavior and even stands against one of the trees her mother
is talking to in an attempt to make it look like her mother is talking to her and not the
tree.
Laura’s mother captures the interest of both Laura and the reader
as she talks about the difference between boy and girl flowers on a hickory tree and the
smell of the blue spruce’s needles. Each page highlights a different tree, and the book’s
artist captures what Laura and her mother experience. A magnifying glass brings the
leaves, flowers, cones, and needles into focus for the reader.
The front
of the book shows the path that Laura and her mother walk along, highlighting each type
of tree they see on the way. The back of the book includes a section on “Getting to Know
the Trees in Your Neighborhood.” It describes each type of tree mentioned in the book and
what you should look for when you’re “talking to trees.”
I don’t know if
this book will become a family favorite, but it would be great to use in a classroom or
at home to challenge your child to learn more about nature. The language is probably too
difficult for its target audience of four to eight year olds to read independently;
however, when read by a teacher or parent and followed by a walk in nature, it’s sure to
inspire nature-lovers.
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