The Busy TreeArbor Day is April 30, so Read, Write, Repeat will look at several books about trees during the next four weeks.

First up is The Busy Tree (Marshall Cavendish, 2009) by Jennifer Ward. It’s a rhyming picture book that looks at all the life that’s found in a tree above and below ground. Vivid oil illustrations by Lisa Falkenstern bring the animals and insects to life.

So, as the book begins, “I’m a tree, a busy tree … Come and see.”

Today’s reviewer: Paul

Age: 7

I like: To dance, eat pepperoni pizza and hula hoop.

This book was about: A tree that has lots of stuff happening on it. It’s a strong tree.There are acorns, chipmunks, ants, a spider, an owls, squirrels and a nest of birds. There’s also a cocoon, moths, ladybugs and kids.

Trees are cool because: They are fun to climb. You have to find the right branch to start with and not go up so high that the branches get too little. You can see new stuff from up in a tree.

The best part was when: I saw the spider making its web. I like spiders.

This book taught me: That you need rain to help trees go. I’ve seen all the things in a tree that the book shows, but I’ve never seen an owl.

Other kids reading this book should watch for: They should watch for stuff they can learn, like all the things that are in a tree.

Three words that best describe this book are: “Busy.” “Tree.” “Birds.”

My favorite phrase in the book is: “Look at my acorns, shiny and round, nibbled by chipmunks who scratch at the ground.”

You should read this book because: There’s some really neat and cool stuff in it.

To learn more about Jennifer and the other nature-inspired books she’s written, visit her Web site. To see other illustrations by Lisa, visit her Web site. And stay tuned for more tree-related book reviews.

If you’ve got a favorite book about trees, list it in the comments section below.