She never imagined a tree
might write back.
In class, Sylvia daydreamed
about her new leafy friend.
"SYLVIA, please pay attention,"
said Ms. Oliver.
"Yeah, Sylvia," whispered Walt,
the boy sitting behind her."
Spring puts Sylvia in the mood for writing poetry. With her first poem complete, she and her dog Shel walk to the park to read it to the birch tree she loves. She ties it to the tree when she has finished. On her way to school the next day she notices her poem is still there. Upon closer inspection, she finds it is a completely different poem than the one she left.
Wow! She did not know that the tree would leave her a message. That poem is on her mind all day, causing some problems with inattention at school. Later in the day she is fully attentive as her teacher teaches about haiku. Sylvia is up to the task of writing one. The praise given for her first attempt does not make Walt happy. Unperturbed, Sylvia rushes to her tree and tucks the haiku in.
Returning on the weekend, she finds the haiku has disappeared, and no other writing is to be found. Then, a folded ninja star does fall from a branch with a poem inside. Sylvia is astonished.
"I never thought that I would see
Such lovely poems from a tree.
I wish that I could climb and live
Among the words you love to give.
But if I lived up in a tree
I sure would miss my family.
(Especially Shel)."
Walt appears at the tree and notices the ninja star in Sylvia's pocket. Realizing that the poems have not been written by the tree is a shock to the two poets. Once recovered, they find something special in each other.
Well-told, and charming in its look at the naivete of a young child, this book will be welcomed for its tale of friendship, poetry, and days spent outside. Ms. Maydani's tender pencil and watercolor images support the tone of the book and offer a hint of spring that we are longing to experience.
Two kids who love to write poetry, spring, and friendship - there's a winning combination.
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