Jacob's Tree

Keller, Holly

ISBN 10: 0688159966 ISBN 13: 9780688159962

Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 1999

Synopsis

Jacob was not tall enough to see himself in the bathroom mirror. He could not reach the cookie jar. Or get to the top of the jungle gym with his brother and sister. And taking vitamins and drinking milk and eating vegetables and doing stretches didn't help. Nothing helped. "Wait," said his mother. "Wait," said his father. And that certainly didn't help.

The winter was long and cold. The tree with the line measuring Jacob's height was deep in snow. But one morning the air was warm. Jacob went into the bathroom to brush his teeth, and looked in the mirror...

About this title

About the Author:

Holly Keller has illustrated a number of books in the Lets-Read-and-Find-Out Science series, including Be a Friend to Trees. She is also the author and illustrator of many picture books, including Island Baby and Horace.

Ms. Keller lives in West Redding, Connecticut.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 1-Young children will identify with this gentle, unassuming story of a bear who longs to be bigger. Not only can't Jacob do certain things, such as see himself in the mirror, but it is also difficult and frustrating for him to keep up with his older brother and sister. He tries eating all of his vegetables and drinking his milk but he still can't speed up the growth process. Finally, spring arrives. Upon discovering that he can now see in the mirror, he bounds outside to check his height against the big elm tree where Papa had previously made a mark. The new mark is indeed higher. The text has great pacing and a careful set up of ideas that allows readers access into the cub's emotional turmoil. The book also gives a sense of the time continuum. Jacob achieves his immediate goal but finds that there's still much growing to do. The illustrations, done in pen and ink and watercolor, make this book immediately inviting. The bear family looks softly human and thoroughly huggable. Keller's precision and the clarity of her art create a believable and sweetly friendly world.
Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Greenwillow Books
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0688159966
• ISBN 13: 9780688159962
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 24
• Illustrator: Keller Holly