The Inside Tree
Kindergarten-Grade 2&mdash;Living alone in his little house on a hill with a tiny yard big enough for his dog and a single tree, Mr. Potter has a perfectly cozy arrangement. However, the night he decides to let the dog in to enjoy the fire begins a chain of events that includes bringing the tree inside, too. Soon the growing tree wants to go back outside, so Mr. Potter makes a big hole in his roof to accommodate it. Now the tree has plenty of sunshine and critters, and all is well until it begins to storm. After days of rain, Mr. Potter moves his favorite chair, stove, and teapot into the dry, warm barn just as his house collapses. He is happy with his new arrangement until he realizes how lonely the cow out in the field looks, but this is a thought that the dog immediately nips in the bud. Smith's text is perfectly complemented by the illustrations. Without saying a word, the dog clearly wonders along with readers what ill-advised thing will Mr. Potter do next. Parkins uses a mix of realistic details, excellent facial expressions, and varying perspectives to bring the story to life. This kindhearted tale is best read aloud with plenty of extra time for laughter and bemusement.&mdash;Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NHCopyright &copy; Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.