Be Thankful for Trees

California Eureka Book Award - Silver Honor

"Narrated in rhyming couplets that scan well, this book manages to pack a lot of thought-provoking concepts into a short format in a cohesive, engaging way. Fitzgerald's colorful, stylized digital illustrations brim with outdoorsy charm and highlight the many beautiful textures and grain patterns of trees barks and cut wood. Arboreal adoration that will indeed leave readers feeling thankful for our wooded world." - Kirkus Reviews

"Via jaunty rhyming tributes, Ziefert offers up plentiful reason to be grateful for trees. . . make(s) for an upbeat read aloud. Fitzgerald''s confident digital illustrations embrace Ziefert's vision simply. . . the books' overall focus is more squarely on the essential, overlooked roles that trees play." - Publisher's Weekly

"Cheerful couplets and repetitive phrases, excellent for reading aloud, explain how trees serve as food, comfort, music, and more. Fitzgerald's colorful illustrations depict diverse humans of varying skin tones enjoying a range of activities, as well as numerous animals and ecosystems thriving, all made possible by trees. . . this celebratory ode that encourages readers to explore and appreciate nature is a welcome addition to most collections." - School Library Journal

"I think this might be my favorite kids books about trees ever. There's a million gorgeous textbook-like non fiction reads that go deep into the nitty gritty biology behind forests and trees, but how many simply highlight their role in our everyday lives? I love that this shows how trees unite us all from sports lovers to book worms and so many in between, really driving home that preserving our forests really is an every human issue. This is a beautiful light hearted reminder of how dependent we are on trees and how vital it is that we consider our impact on Earth continuing forward." -KidsLitIsLit

Ziefert's informative, rhyming text is sure to keep readers engaged throughout as well as prompt fruitful discussions and STEM lessons after the book is complete. Fitzgerald's colorful, digital illustrations portray diverse individuals reveling in nature and joyfully captures the beauty of nature. . . . A spectacular story for budding scientists, environmentalists, and nature lovers." - Olivia the Librarian

"This book is a wonderful way to begin conversations about nature and the importance of trees with young children."-Children's Literature

"This engaging rhyming text teaches children all about the ways trees are important to our lives. . . This would be a wonderful book to read aloud to young children as they learn how essential trees are to life and that we need to do to protect them from man-made destruction. The illustrations and simple text encourage children to appreciate what trees provide for us and will likely stimulate lively discussion as the book is read aloud." Recommended. -School Library Connection