Tree in the Trail by Holling Clancy Holling
This is a book scheduled for Ambleside Online Year 2. We were supposed to start reading this in September, but our library only has one copy of it and there are several families on the Island using AO. I put in a request for it in August and finally got to pick it up last week.
The main constant character in the story is a cottonwood tree that "experiences" a lot of American history (although Canada is mentioned a few times!) I found the story well written and highly enjoyable. There are many illustrations, some in colour and some in black and white. My children are really interested in what will happen next. It is a simple yet accurate portrayal of history that is easy for children to grasp without being "twaddle". This is an excellent book for elementary age students, but my husband and I enjoy it just as much as our kids do. It would be a great book to read alongside or after reading Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. If you can't find it through your local library, it is also available on Amazon.
One reviewer on Amazon raised a concern about "mythology" in the book. I was actually puzzled by this and went over the book again. I guess what the reviewer was referring to was the Natives' religious practices and that they left gifts tied to the tree. I didn't find this a problem, as it led to some good discussions.
Thanks for visiting today. Linking up to the Hip Homeschool Hop.
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