Poetree by Shauna LaVoy Reynolds

Synopsis: 

“The snow has melted, the buttercups are blooming, and Sylvia celebrates winter’s end by writing a poem. She ties her poem to a birch tree, hoping that it doesn’t count as littering if it makes the world more beautiful. But when she returns, a new poem is waiting for her. Could the tree really be writing back? Sylvia decides to test her theory, and so begins a heartwarming poetic correspondence…as well as an unexpected new friendship.

Lyrical and sweetly satisfying, Poetree is about finding beauty in the world around you, and new friends in unlikely places.”

Review:

Poetree by Shauna LaVoy Reynolds is a beautiful story for elementary school children to introduce the concepts of poetry, friendship, and noticing beauty in the most unexpected places. I love the little girl’s feelings for her poetree, how she can’t wait to share her new poems with it and how she’s willing to accept that the tree is a little shy. And you’ve got to smile at her dog’s name – Shel (my mind immediately went to Shel Silverstein, a wonderful children’s poet)!

The illustrations perfectly match the feel of the text with soft lines and muted, pastel colors in watercolor. It’s the perfect fit the young girl’s imagination and poetic spirit.

This is truly a sweet story that I happened to pick up when passing it on the shelf at the library and I’m so glad I did. With so many books being published every year, I’m bound to miss a few. But, I love stumbling across books at work, it’s one of my favorite parts of working in a library!

If you’re looking for some great books of poetry for kids, check out my Summer of Nonfiction: Poetry booklist!

Need to Know:

Title: Poetree
Author: Shauna LaVoy Reynolds
Illustrator: Shahrzad Maydani
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 19, 2019
Page Number: 32 pgs.