You may have noticed the message on my sidebar where I say I want to share new discoveries. Our tree named Steve is not a new book but it is a new discovery for me. This book was published in 2005 but I am happy to report it is still available.
Here is the blurb from the back cover:
"Two year old Sari couldn't pronounce the word 'tree' and called it 'Steve'. Dad and Mum thought Steve was the perfect place to hang Sari's swing. Adam thought Steve made a great third base. And Lindsay enjoyed her first crush under the shade of Steve's branches. In fact Steve was there for all the family's milestones - and he was strong and funny and generous. Now the years have passed. Dad is writing a letter to the kids with news about Steve, who is no longer the tree he once was."
There is a glorious marriage between the text and illustrations in this book. I laughed when I saw the page "... and whenever our dryer broke down, he held our underwear with pride."
On every page Steve is placed on the left side. He is so huge we can only see the lower trunk. The colours change on each page with the seasons and mood. Kirkus describes this "Steve’s almost-face shines in each illustration of this sentimental tribute."
We have recently had huge storms here in Sydney and it is a storm like this that finally topples Steve but turn the page for a surprise. Steve can live on - but not in the way you might expect. This is the perfect book to share with a young class. Then you could go for a tree walk and celebrate the beautiful trees in your own neighborhood.
Another book in our school library illustrated by David Catrow is I wanna Iguana. If you click his name you will see he has illustrated a very large number of picture books.
I would pair this book with The Crooked Apple Tree by Eric Houghton.
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