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Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Mum, Me, and the Mulberry Tree, written by Tanya Rosie and illustrated by Chuck Groenink. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2022. $24.99 ages 3 and up

 


"Then Mum starts to climb, 
up, up, and up, 
finding berries the world can't see. 
I worry and call, "Mum, don't go too high." 
But she's safe in the arms of our tree.

It's the perfect day for a Mum and her child to venture forth on a planned outing. Getting ready is quick, and they are off hand-in-hand to the nearest bus stop. They are well prepared for the day that unfolds before them. With buckets in hand, they disembark and head toward 'our tree'. It sits atop a hill. In great anticipation, the child wonders:

"Will there be many, and will they be ripe?"

They won't know until they reach the welcome shade of their tree. They are there and ripe for the picking ... mulberries! So many to be eaten, and to gather up. When hungry tummies make themselves known, the two sit to have lunch. Rain sends them scurrying to the shelter of the tree's branches and leaves. 

They don't stop picking until the sun begins to set. Then, equipped with two full pails of beautifully ripe berries, they board the bus for a peaceful trip home where they put their day's haul to good use. Mulberry pie! What could be better? 

Mixed-media spreads are bathed in sunlight, and the glory of the natural surroundings. Cozy illustrations complement the rhythm of the text and offer details sure to hold a young reader's attention. What a lovely memory for both of them, and sure to spark conversations with little ones concerning traditions they share with their parent or parents.                                                                                             



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