Arbor Day Books and Crafts!

Did you know that today is Arbor Day?  In celebration of trees and all the fantastic things that trees bring to us like fresh air, shade on a sunny day and piles of leaves to jump into every fall we are posting all our tree crafts so you can make a tree and celebrate.

Check out the official Arbor Day Foundation website for more info.

Sun Print Tree (above)

Apple Tree

Japanese Cherry Tree

Emily Carr Inspired Trees

Budding Spring Tree

Hole Punch Tree

Tree Books

Pablo”™s Tree by Pat Mora is a great book. The author has successfully integrated so many wonderful things into one still entertaining and engaging book. The story is about Pablo who is excited to go to his grandfather”™s house to celebrate his birthday. See his Lito (grandfather) has a wonderful tradition of decorating his tree every year to celebrate Pablo”™s birthday. The book explains that this started before Pablo was even born when his mom told her father that she would be adopting a baby. I love that this book is about a multi-generation family, includes adoption without it being the only subject in the book, and it”™s multilingual text (Spanish and English). It”™s a gem, oh and my son loved it too!

 

Our Apple Tree by Gorel Kristina Naslund is a straightforward yet beautiful book about a year in the life of an apple tree. I like that it starts in winter because so often apple tree books start in the fall with the harvest. The pictures are delightful and two little tree fairies follow along with you as the tree goes through its life cycle. My son had very little interest in the book, but it wasn”™t the book. At 2 he just wasn”™t able to sit for so much information. This book is perfect for 4-8-year-olds.

A Tree for Emmy by Mary Ann Rodman was a huge hit with my son who took a real liking to Emmy the “stubborn and a little bit wild ” main character of this book. She loves the Mimosa tree in her grandma”™s yard and decides more than anything she wants her own for her birthday. Unfortunately, they are wild and no nursery carries them. She is distraught and arguably a little bratty when disappointed. But as luck would have it when she visits her grandma again she notices a shoot growing! I like how independent Emmy is and must admit to taking great pleasure in my son noticing Emmy”™s baby sister in a sling in one illustration! Very cute book!

Do you do anything for Arbor Day? Share your fun activities in comments below, or over on my Facebook page!

For more quick tips on helping your child learn to read check out my book; Raising A Rock-Star Reader. It is packed with fun ideas for families, book lists, and advice for parents.