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This stunningly illustrated picture book takes a fascinating journey through time as it imagines the beginnings of New York City's oldest Elm.
In the heart of New York City stands a great, proud Elm tree, now 250 years old. Stronger than any skyscraper, this tree witnessed the very beginnings of the city's settlement, has persisted through vast fires and long wars, and has stood tall as the city has grown even taller around it. In this affectingly told and beautifully illustrated volume, Karen Gray Ruelle and Deborah Durland DeSaix imagine what might have been the beginnings of this grand tree, as well as describe the history it has witnessed.
The 250-year history of a tree in Madison Square Park in New York City is presented in a rather dense text accompanied by bleak illustrations in dark tones. Speculating that a seed was dropped in the soil by a frightened chipmunk in 1686 and that the resulting sapling grew and thrived through the seasons, the tree was witness to many changes. In 1794 a potter's field held victims of yellow fever. Soldiers leaned against the tree when a military arsenal occupied the grounds in 1806. The arsenal was converted to an orphanage in 1825 which was later destroyed by a fire. Civil War campgrounds occupied the space from 1860-1865 and then P. T. Barnum established a hippodrome for his circus in 1873. The arm of the Statue of Liberty was displayed nearby beginning in 1876. A period of parades, celebrations, and riots occurred from 1889 -1920. Dutch elm disease killed many of the trees in the 1930s and the park fell into disrepair for over fifty years. Restoration began in 1986 and a 150th anniversary celebration of Madison Square Park was held in 1997. The featured tree is reaching the end of its life cycle, but the majestic trunk still stands tall. A time line of these events appears on the bottom of the pages, and three pages of historical notes appear at the end of the book. The audience for this book is not clear. Students and teachers in New York City might find the information useful in historical units of study. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D.
| Price | Condition | Delivery | Seller | Action |
| $99.99 | Digital |
| WonderClub |
Albert Kiefer
reviewed The Tree on July 22, 2009
The Tree
Thank goodness not all the old trees are cut down! Cities can grow around an existing tree, as this book lovingly shows.
This is a lovely non-fiction picture book about a 250-year-old tree in New York City. This is not a book for preschoolers but would be better appreciated by upper elementary school students.
I found the whole story a bit sad, and at the end of the book the reader is informed that this elm tree is coming to the end of its lifespan, so it doesn't end on a particularly happy note either.
I did love the book though. The illustrations are somber but beautiful. There's a lot of history packed into this book, and for kids who might not normally be interested in history, this book might appeal to them. I can see New York City kids being especially absorbed.
There are more in depth and interesting historical notes, and a timeline, at the end of the book. I learned a tremendous amount from this short children's book. One fascinating thing I learned is that in the 1870s the arm holding the torch from the Statue of Liberty was placed in the park to raise money to build the base of the statue; visitors paid to climb a ladder up to its balcony. There is so much more as this book covers over 300 years, the last 250 including the elm tree that gives this book its name.
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