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Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 1
A Tree Is a Plant
Trees can live for a very long time, and they are alive all year long, even when they look dead in winter. In this newly illustrated book, you will learn how a tree grows and how it gets food and water. You can also find out what happens to water after it travels through a tree's roots, branches, and leaves, and how to figure out a tree's age. Clyde Robert Bulla's simple and concise text and Stacey Schuett's lush illustrations follow a tree's continuous life cycle through spring, summer, winter, and fall.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1960
5 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
About the author
Clyde Robert Bulla
104 books99 followersBorn to be a Writer
Almost as far back as he can remember, Clyde Robert Bulla wanted to write. Born on a farm in a small town in Missouri, Mr. Bulla's first school was a one-room country schoolhouse. One day his teacher asked each first grade student what he or she would do with a thousand dollars. Young Clyde answered that he would buy a table. His classmates laughed heartily, and his teacher was puzzled. “What I really meant,” says Mr. Bulla, “is a desk or other flat surface on which to write my stories!”
First Stories
Mr. Bulla's first piece of writing was titled, “How Planets Were Born.” The ambitious opening sentence was, “One night old Mother Moon had a million babies.” All through school, Mr. Bulla continued to write stories mostly, but plays and poetry, too. After years of gathering editor's rejection slips, Mr. Bulla sold a magazine story, then several more. Soon after, Mr. Bulla wrote a novel and a publisher accepted it.
The Difficult Years
In the excitement of publishing a novel, Mr. Bulla wrote two more books. Unfortunately, no one wanted to publish them. His luck took a turn for the worse when the publisher of his first book went bankrupt. For several years, he worked at a local weekly newspaper where he struggled with linotype, kept books, collected bills, and wrote a weekly column.
Success!
A couple of Mr. Bulla's weekly columns caught the attention of a well-known author and illustrator of children's books. She wrote to Mr. Bulla, suggesting that he try writing a children's book. He immediately sent her a manuscript for a children's book he'd written a year before. Within one week, an editor of a New York publisher read the manuscript,and it was accepted. The book was The Donkey Cart, published in 1946. Since then, Mr. Bulla has written over twenty books for children, as well as the music for several children's song books.
About The Chalk Box Kid
“When I was young,” explains Mr. Bulla, “I sometimes found it hard to cope in new surroundings, and I was apt to get off on the wrong foot. This is the story of a boy who got off on the wrong foot in a new school and how he tried to cope.” In describing the chalk garden, Mr. Bulla says, “I gave Gregory something I've always wished for: a big, blank wall that I could cover with my own drawings.”
Almost as far back as he can remember, Clyde Robert Bulla wanted to write. Born on a farm in a small town in Missouri, Mr. Bulla's first school was a one-room country schoolhouse. One day his teacher asked each first grade student what he or she would do with a thousand dollars. Young Clyde answered that he would buy a table. His classmates laughed heartily, and his teacher was puzzled. “What I really meant,” says Mr. Bulla, “is a desk or other flat surface on which to write my stories!”
First Stories
Mr. Bulla's first piece of writing was titled, “How Planets Were Born.” The ambitious opening sentence was, “One night old Mother Moon had a million babies.” All through school, Mr. Bulla continued to write stories mostly, but plays and poetry, too. After years of gathering editor's rejection slips, Mr. Bulla sold a magazine story, then several more. Soon after, Mr. Bulla wrote a novel and a publisher accepted it.
The Difficult Years
In the excitement of publishing a novel, Mr. Bulla wrote two more books. Unfortunately, no one wanted to publish them. His luck took a turn for the worse when the publisher of his first book went bankrupt. For several years, he worked at a local weekly newspaper where he struggled with linotype, kept books, collected bills, and wrote a weekly column.
Success!
A couple of Mr. Bulla's weekly columns caught the attention of a well-known author and illustrator of children's books. She wrote to Mr. Bulla, suggesting that he try writing a children's book. He immediately sent her a manuscript for a children's book he'd written a year before. Within one week, an editor of a New York publisher read the manuscript,and it was accepted. The book was The Donkey Cart, published in 1946. Since then, Mr. Bulla has written over twenty books for children, as well as the music for several children's song books.
About The Chalk Box Kid
“When I was young,” explains Mr. Bulla, “I sometimes found it hard to cope in new surroundings, and I was apt to get off on the wrong foot. This is the story of a boy who got off on the wrong foot in a new school and how he tried to cope.” In describing the chalk garden, Mr. Bulla says, “I gave Gregory something I've always wished for: a big, blank wall that I could cover with my own drawings.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 10, 2022
Well and of course, it quite naturally makes a lot of common sense for Clyde Robert Bulla to keep the text for his 1960 picture book A Tree is a Plant sufficiently simple for the so-called picture book crowd. However and unfortunately, both my adult self and in particular my inner child are finding Bulla’s tone of narrative voice problematically patronising and his featured printed words for A Tree is a Plant often if not even for the most part rather overly exaggerated in and with their simplicity. Because while in A Tree is a Plant Clyde Robert Bulla definitely provides a lot of potentially interesting and educational details on trees in general and on apple trees in particular, the fact remains that while I am reading through and looking at A Tree is a Plant, the way Bulla is textually presenting his information to and for his intended audience, this all feels (at least in my humble opinion) rather too simple and almost ridiculously so even for younger children.
And well, that Clyde Robert Bulla’s textual tone and style for A Tree is a Plant equally seems rather overtly for and to me as though he, as though Bulla is preaching at and talking down to both potential readers and listeners of A Tree is a Plant (and quite patronisingly I think), yes, this certainly and majorly rubs me the wrong proverbial way and has definitely also majorly lowered my reading pleasure and my star rating for A Tree is a Plant from three to now only two stars. So indeed, not even the fact that I do find Stacey Schuett’s accompanying illustrations for A Tree is a Plant nicely descriptive and delightfully old fashioned can and will change that I simply find Clyde Robert Bulla’s text as it is presented in A Tree is a Plant extremely disappointing (and also, even with Schuett’s artwork, if A Tree is a Plant is to be used with young children, it might need to be explained what the general dress code was in 1960, that girls and women were made to wear dresses and skirts and not pants, not slacks).
And well, that Clyde Robert Bulla’s textual tone and style for A Tree is a Plant equally seems rather overtly for and to me as though he, as though Bulla is preaching at and talking down to both potential readers and listeners of A Tree is a Plant (and quite patronisingly I think), yes, this certainly and majorly rubs me the wrong proverbial way and has definitely also majorly lowered my reading pleasure and my star rating for A Tree is a Plant from three to now only two stars. So indeed, not even the fact that I do find Stacey Schuett’s accompanying illustrations for A Tree is a Plant nicely descriptive and delightfully old fashioned can and will change that I simply find Clyde Robert Bulla’s text as it is presented in A Tree is a Plant extremely disappointing (and also, even with Schuett’s artwork, if A Tree is a Plant is to be used with young children, it might need to be explained what the general dress code was in 1960, that girls and women were made to wear dresses and skirts and not pants, not slacks).
April 11, 2019
This is a decent introduction to how trees grow, but probably a bit too basic for my kindergartner. Since it talks a lot about an apple tree, it would be a good choice to read aloud with my younger girls when we do apple prints again next fall. It's also a good one for introducing the concept of a life cycle.
February 9, 2017
The text from this little book is 1960 by Clyde Robert Bulla , my original copy says 2001 for the Stacey Schuett illustrations. My second copy is the newer rebranded version. Still the same interior, still the same text. The differences are with the logo and the title font and color. The books are the same size and just as delightful as before but with a more exclaims to the brand and title for interest
I like the original, but I'm fond of the rebranding and I am delighted with the Science Let's Read and Find Out series. His Level 1 book is a perfect addition to our Kindergarten Enrichment. I'm delighted Memoria Press recommended it. It was a great purchase, the newer edition a review product of the publisher.
I like the original, but I'm fond of the rebranding and I am delighted with the Science Let's Read and Find Out series. His Level 1 book is a perfect addition to our Kindergarten Enrichment. I'm delighted Memoria Press recommended it. It was a great purchase, the newer edition a review product of the publisher.
April 24, 2020
Genre: Informational Nonfiction
Reading level: K-2
I found myself a little bored when listening to this book, but the voice that was narrating this story kept me going through. Despite my thoughts, I believe all children would benefit greatly from reading this book. It gives much information about trees, it even includes different types of trees. I believe the kids would benefit the most by reading this book by themselves, so they have enough time to comprehend what the book is saying on their own!! Overall, I was a little bored while listening to this book, but I believe this is a must read for children because of all of the information.
Reading level: K-2
I found myself a little bored when listening to this book, but the voice that was narrating this story kept me going through. Despite my thoughts, I believe all children would benefit greatly from reading this book. It gives much information about trees, it even includes different types of trees. I believe the kids would benefit the most by reading this book by themselves, so they have enough time to comprehend what the book is saying on their own!! Overall, I was a little bored while listening to this book, but I believe this is a must read for children because of all of the information.
April 5, 2019
Parts of this are done very well, especially how Bulla presents winter and spring in a single page and the first seven years in a single spread. But then there are the final eight pages, which are essentially filler: "When do you like apple trees the best?" with the four seasons as the choices.
Illustrations are okay, but not all that special.
Illustrations are okay, but not all that special.
February 15, 2020
One of those rare goodreads books tagged with botany. It's a children's picture book. But the writing is lame. And the art is only okay. It is a bit informative once it gets to the roots. But in general there is just not enough here to be worthwhile.
April 17, 2020
Genre: informational nonfiction
Grade range: K-2
I have never been very familiar with the various kinds of trees. I think that if I would have read more books like this as I was growing up, I would have had more basic knowledge of the world around me. With the aid of detailed illustrations, the reader is given a clear explanation of the cycle of a tree and the parts of a tree. I want to encourage my students to read more texts like this because when there are illustrations to support the lesson and it is presented in an interesting way, children are more likely to remember the information. Often times, they won’t even realize they are learning!
Grade range: K-2
I have never been very familiar with the various kinds of trees. I think that if I would have read more books like this as I was growing up, I would have had more basic knowledge of the world around me. With the aid of detailed illustrations, the reader is given a clear explanation of the cycle of a tree and the parts of a tree. I want to encourage my students to read more texts like this because when there are illustrations to support the lesson and it is presented in an interesting way, children are more likely to remember the information. Often times, they won’t even realize they are learning!
June 13, 2017
1. The book "A Tree is a Plant" by Clyde Robert Bulla is an informational book about trees. It explains how a plant grows. It shows the process of how trees get food. It explains the apple tree's life cycle.
2. I use this book in the fall for my informational unit. The pictures and captions really show the students the parts of a tree. It also gives good details and information about trees and plants.
3. I would pair this book with "From Seed to Pumpkin" by Wendy Pfeffer.
4. "A tree is a plant. A tree is the biggest plant that grows."
2. I use this book in the fall for my informational unit. The pictures and captions really show the students the parts of a tree. It also gives good details and information about trees and plants.
3. I would pair this book with "From Seed to Pumpkin" by Wendy Pfeffer.
4. "A tree is a plant. A tree is the biggest plant that grows."
April 24, 2020
Genre: informational grade: 1-5
I think this book is super cute and a great way to learn about nature!this book teaches you all about trees and is very informational while still being fun. This is a great book to use especially in an environment where you are able to go outside and actually interact with nature while exploring the book. A great addition to any classroom!
I think this book is super cute and a great way to learn about nature!this book teaches you all about trees and is very informational while still being fun. This is a great book to use especially in an environment where you are able to go outside and actually interact with nature while exploring the book. A great addition to any classroom!
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May 11, 2020I like that this easy reader is shaped like a picture book. That allows for more illustration space, which young readers still crave. The descriptions are well done, and readers will have no problem absorbing the information.
The "stage" level was a surprise. Get the explanation in the full review.
The "stage" level was a surprise. Get the explanation in the full review.
November 22, 2017
Follows the life and seasons of an apple tree. Good pictures and diagrams. Easy to understand.
September 8, 2018
An excellent educational source for learning about trees/plants and their system. Definitely an easy, quick read.
December 23, 2018
A book for young scientists that covers a tree's life cycle in a very simple way. The illustrations are clear and the prose is enough to satisfy some children and make others want to find out more.
September 27, 2019
Describes the life cycle of an apple tree, but with a nice introduction to the growing process.
January 14, 2020
Great preschool science during apple study.
October 9, 2020
Decent read aloud. Recommended.
November 12, 2021
This book tells the reader all about how a tree is a plant that grows from a seed, and is one the largest plants there is. The life cycle of an apple tree is the focus of this non fiction book.
October 15, 2016
This is an interesting and fun book all about trees. I liked reading it because it taught me things that I did not know about trees. The illustrations are whimsical and colorful. It was an easy read that had a lot of valuable information in it. I liked how well the pictures went along with the text. The information I learned in the book I can carry with me. It asks the reader questions that will get them to think and gives them an opportunity to interact with the book. At the end of the book it gives you information on how you can find out more about trees and it gives you what you will need to conduct your own little experiment about trees. I would recommend this book because it is easy to read and I think that anyone of any age would enjoy it.
May 31, 2015
"A Tree is a Plant," written by Clyde Robert Bulla and illustrated by Stacy Schuett, is a great children's non-fiction book that introduces young children to the wonderful world of nature through trees. They learn about the different kinds of trees, the parts of a tree that we see and the parts that are hidden, like the trunk. They learn how a tree receives its nutrients and how it changes throughout the seasons.
This book contains all the elements of a non-fiction book presented in a straightforward and factual way that can be used for multiple educational purposes that I find fitting for younger children. At that age, children are learning information about everyday things, from the seasons, types of animals, the weather, and in this case, how a plant is a tree. Stacey Schuett provides wonderful colorful images that I believe the children would enjoy.
I would like to use this book for the younger students, from grades pre-k through 2nd. It teaches the younger children in a practical way that is both fun and educating. A way I would like to apply this book in the classroom would be through hands on activities for the younger students to showcase what they learned. This gives them an opportunity to see the actual components of a tree, from its trunk, the bark, the leaves, and everything they learned from this book. An opportunity to explore and relate what they see in a book to real life solidifies their knowledge.
This book contains all the elements of a non-fiction book presented in a straightforward and factual way that can be used for multiple educational purposes that I find fitting for younger children. At that age, children are learning information about everyday things, from the seasons, types of animals, the weather, and in this case, how a plant is a tree. Stacey Schuett provides wonderful colorful images that I believe the children would enjoy.
I would like to use this book for the younger students, from grades pre-k through 2nd. It teaches the younger children in a practical way that is both fun and educating. A way I would like to apply this book in the classroom would be through hands on activities for the younger students to showcase what they learned. This gives them an opportunity to see the actual components of a tree, from its trunk, the bark, the leaves, and everything they learned from this book. An opportunity to explore and relate what they see in a book to real life solidifies their knowledge.
February 8, 2012
I likes this book a lot. It does a great job of explaining how a tree is a plant also. It grows from a seed just like smaller plants. I would use this book in a 1st grade class to start a lesson on plants. Most children believe that trees aren't plants because they are so much bigger than other plants. I would hope to illustrate that a tree is a plant also because it grows from a seed. We would also talk about the different characteristics of a tree and what the different parts of a tree do. What carries water o the leaves on a tree? Do the leaves make food for the tree like the leaves on smaller plants?
April 19, 2010
This book is good to teach children about the lifecycle from a seed to a tree as well as how a tree changes throughout the season... the tree is an Apple tree so it is good to use in the fall. I used this book to teach a lesson on seasons and how a tree changes throughout the seasons- I only read selected pages though because the book is a little bit long. It has rich illustrations and valuable information.
July 27, 2009
This non-fiction book for young readers is part of the Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science series and is a very basic introduction to types of trees, the way trees grow, and parts of trees. The illustrations are drawn—some are more simplistic than others. This book is suited for younger readers (grades 1-3) and is a good science resource.
January 17, 2020
I would give one and a half stars to this book. The subject matter might be a bit of a challenge to make very interesting, but Clyde Robert Bulla accepts that challenge fully, and does a good job of explaining the science behind the way that a tree grows. The illustrations compliment the text nicely.
February 4, 2013
This book has inviting illustrations and shows that trees grow, just like plants! The book mostly follows an apple tree through early growth, then through one year of the four seasons. The book is a good start to research for early readers. There are directions at the back of the book for explorations about how trees grow.
April 13, 2012
This is a book about apple trees. This book teaches kids about lifecycle from a seed to a tree, and also teaches them the changes of trees in different seasons. It is easy to read. It is not interesting, but it is informative.
September 10, 2015
This is a great book to read to children when they are learning about plants. This book discusses that a tree is in fact a plant. It also discusses the different parts of a tree, how it gets it's nutrients and how it changes over the seasons.
October 9, 2008
A Tree Is A Plant is an informational book about how a tree grows. It is a good book for ages 5-8. Good to use for science resourse.
December 22, 2009
Gives basic information on trees in a very concise format, which is great for younger students. The pictures are cute - I liked all of the different animals featured around the tree!
June 26, 2009
Very informative, yet simple for young children, this book has a lot of great information about trees.
June 5, 2011
Ugh. This is how most people speak to kids. "This is a tree. Do you like trees?! TREES ARE GREAT, WHEE!" Ugh. OK information, just not amazing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews