Boss, Shira. City Tree, The. Lorena Alvarez, Illus. Clarion, 04/2023. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-0-35-842341-6. GRADES Kindergarten–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Dani notices a large hole in the sidewalk in front of her apartment building, and soon workers plant a tree there. She observes the tree over the four seasons, helping to keep the area clean: “In summer, the leaves shaded the stoop and sidewalk from the hot sun. The tree was an oasis.” The need for more trees to be planted in urban areas is made clear but is not heavy-handed, and the four pages of back matter add more factual information on what trees do to help urban environments. The full-color, digital, mixed media artwork shows Dani as a young brown-skinned girl with straight black hair, and features her ethnically diverse neighbors. This will be particularly useful for teachers, as well as Earth Day and Arbor Day storytimes.
Penny Peck—SJSU iSchool