Regarding the Trees – A Review
Tree use and care, tree house, family tree and tree of life, middle school students
Jul 31, 2006
Regarding The Trees: a splintered saga rooted in secrets, written by Kate Klise and illustrated by M. Sarah Klise, is geared toward grades 4-6 students (ages 9-12) and adults who enjoy witty wordplay. Patience is essential as readers make their ways through this intricate and multifaceted book. Letters, newspaper columns, secret notes, and keepsake envelopes tell the story in scrapbook format.
What is the story?
Principal Walter Russ of Geyser Creek Middle School posts a public notice inviting bids for a major tree-trimming project. Leif Blite, branch chief from the Society of Principals and Administrators, is due to evaluate Wally's position as principal and Wally wants everything around the school to look neat and tidy. Then the fun begins!
Florence Waters, owner of Flowing Fountains, etc. and a friend of the Geyser Creek Middle School folks (introduced to readers in the previous Regarding the... series of books), replies to Wally's notice. Wally's reply to Florence earnestly sets in motion the series of mishaps, puns and romances about which Regarding the Trees orbits.
There is also enjoyable tree trivia distributed through the book. For example, the sixth grade class learns that:
- "Throughout history every civilization has regarded trees with great respect."
- "Trees are the largest and longest-living organisms on Earth..."
- "...two mature trees provide enough oxygen for a family of four."
Some of the trivia is marginal. But, they might yield interesting reflections from mature readers.
- "Hospital patients heal faster and require shorter stays if their rooms face one or more trees..."
- "The Celts planted trees in the names of their children to allow each child's imagination to live in the earth and the wind..."
- "...The Romans believed the ancient god Attis lent his spirit to the pine tree, which became the maypole."
Romantic outcomes must remain secret, but the Geyser Creek Middle School trees are trimmed. Wally passes his evaluation and holds on to his principal's position. In addition, the schoolchildren do learn about trees, as well as the importance of friendship, food, and finding one's roots.
Clever and amusing diagrams that may add to learning about trees pack this book's front and back endpapers. The endpaper against the first page lists and illustrates four steps in planting a tree, and concludes with Plant a tree. Leave a legacy! Nature and nurture! The endpaper against the front cover invites students to plant a family tree and suggests several reasons for doing this. The Klises' reasons furnish plenty of food for thought. The reason I like best for planting a family tree is Trees keep us grounded to the past and to the future.
The endpaper against the last page asks readers What are your roots? Research your family tree and find out. Listed in a witty way after these questions are six sets of directions. These end by suggesting Interview older relatives. Ask them to share funny family stories. And, diagramed on the endpaper against the back cover is a blank family tree for students to fill. Under this diagram is the caveat: Remember, you can trim your family tree any way you like!
A friend who teaches fifth grade suggests that this might be a good book for students learning written communications with an assortment of written sources. I believe that a great deal of pleasure and learning on many levels can happen when a student and an adult important to that child patiently read and discuss portions of the book together. In addition, the small projects scattered within the book and the larger ones on the endpapers make great undertakings for both home and school.
©
Text and photograph by Georgene A. Bramlage,
July 2006. Reproduction without permission prohibited.
