Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Simple, interactive story about the changing seasons.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Through simple rhymes, kids are encouraged to tap a tree's bare branches to help it sprout buds. Then they rub the tree to warm it up, helping it form blossoms. Eventually, the little tree grows fruit, then loses its leaves, only to become a nest for birds and ultimately begin the cycle again.
Is It Any Good?
TAP THE TREE is a great read-aloud book, as kids will enjoy interacting with the pages, from tapping the tree to knocking on the trunk. Author-illustrator Christie Matheson expertly builds the excitement to a peak when the apples fall ("Plop!, plop!, plop! plop! plop! plop! Kerplop!") then slows the book down again as summer ends and the fall and winter months begin.
Matheson uses both watercolor and collage to showcase her tree throughout the seasons, creating little pink blossoms, red apples, rich fall-colored leaves, and tiny blue birds. The tree's simplicity is well balanced with the spare text.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the seasons and what they like about each one. What's the difference between summer and winter? Or spring and fall? How are the trees different? What else is different?
What's your favorite season?
Examine how the author made her tree collage. Parents can help kids make tree collages of their own. What season will you choose for your tree?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Christie Matheson
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : STEM
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Greenwillow Books
- Publication date : November 27, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Hardback
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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