Call Me Tree/Llámame Árbol

Review
By Booklist

This pastoral celebration of trees employs lyrical language (in both English and Spanish) that urges children to emulate saplings by growing free and standing tall in the world. “I begin / Within / The deep / dark / earth / A seed / A tree / Free to be free.” Later, when more mature, the children (or trees) observe: “A tree I am / a tree I stand / On a sidewalk / On a mountain / By a river or road.” Finally, a young boy concludes, “Call me tree / Because / I am tall / I am strong / And like a tree / I am free.” The author and illustrator of I Know the River Loves Me / Yo s? que el r?o me ama (2009) here offers vibrantly hued illustrations depicting diverse children mimicking trees by forming their bodies into various yoga positions. The art has a magically realistic feel, as children become one with the roots, trunks, and branches of their trees. This makes a good choice for story hour dramatizations, particularly for Arbor Day or the Jewish festival of Tu B’shvat.