A Tree for Emmy by Mary Ann Rodman

A Tree for Emmy

(Peachtree Publishers-2009)

By: Mary Ann Rodman

Illustrated by: Tatjana Mai-Wyss

Grade: 1-2

*Giverny Award Winner 2011*

A Tree for Emmy is about a young girl, Emmy, who loved all trees but especially the mimosa tree in her Gramma's pasture. She loved it so much that she wanted it for her birthday, but stores didn't sell them. She went to visit her Gramma's tree and found a baby mimosa growing right next to it. This is a great story about the innocence of a child and the joy a tree can bring them.

Theme/Skill Taught: Perseverance/Life of a tree


About the Author: She was born in Washington, DC in 1954 and grew up living in Chicago and Jackson, Missisippi. She received a BA in theater arts from Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, NC, a master's degree in library and information science from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and an MFA in writing for children from Vermont College. She has held a variety of jobs ranging from community theater director to church youth coordinator but has been primarily a children's librarian. She received a number of awards for her books including the Georgia Book of Excellence Award, special recognition in Kentucky, Rhode Island, Kansas and Nebraska, the Mark Twain Award in Missouri. the Chicago Public Library's "Best of the Best" list and was named a Notable Book by the american Library Association.Mary Ann Rodman's Bio

About the Illustrator: Tatjana Mai-Wyss was born in Switzerland. Growing up with her nose in a book, she always wanted to be the one to draw the pictures. Today Tatjana lives in sunny South Carolina where she can work out on the screen porch year round and listen to the birds. Most often she uses watercolor and gouache, adding detail and texture with collage and colored pencils. Her black and white work is usually done the old fashioned way, in India ink with a dip pen. Lately she has had a good time experimenting with paper cuts.Tatjana Mai-Wyss' Bio

Pre-Reading Activities:  Can discuss with the kids about different family members and what they like about going to different houses (food they cook, toys they can play with). This would be a great journal entry or discussion before the book.
Post Reading Activities: I would read this book during science lessons and learning about seed and how seeds can be planted and grow into a tree. After reading the book, we can plant a seed, water it and watch it grow.