The Tree That Bear Climbed
Written by Marianne Berkes
Illustrated by Kathleen Rietz
This fun, cumulative poem follows in the tradition of “The House that Jack Built.” Yet it has an important theme: everything in nature is interconnected. The tree is anchored by roots that need rain and soil. It grows a sturdy trunk and long branches that sprout leaves and flowers. The flowers attract bees that use the nectar to make honey. That’s where the bear comes in, but neither the bear nor the bees are happy about it. The humorous tone emphasizes that everything in the cycle has come together to the perfect outcome: that there is honey in the beehive. Just as bear cannot resist climbing the tree for the honey, the bees cannot resist going after him for getting their honey.
Ideal for use with second grade or any young student studying the plant cycle, because it introduces the concept in such a lighthearted way. Good companion for a nature walk. This would be a great class read aloud with its catchy rhyming text and lovely nature paintings that are the illustrations. It is also good for a center activity or self-study not only because of its second grade reading level, but because of the additional experiments and quizzes in the back of the book. There is also a wealth of literacy activities, including worksheets, on the publisher’s website:(http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com)
TITLE: The Tree That Bear Climbed- AUTHOR: Marianne Berkes
- ILLUSTRATOR: Kathleen Rietz
- PUBLISHER: Sylvan Dell, 2012
- REVIEWER: Risa Brown
- EDITION: Paperback, 32 p.
- ISBN: 978-1-60718-5376
