Ruthie's Big Tree

This little story for four- to seven-year-olds provides a mini-lesson in ecology and civics. Ruthie’s best friend and confidant is a big, old tree on a vacant lot which fulfills every childish desire for a secret place and an imaginative playground, as the accompanying illustrations ably demonstrate. When the lot is about to be sold and the Tree Service men come in a truck to cut the tree down, Ruthie bravely climbs up the tree to protect it. Staging a sit-in with the help of the neighbourhood children, she saves her friendly tree. Children will readily identify with Ruthie, Shirley Day’s credible neighbourhood heroine. In the story the author relives an event from her own childhood and not only clearly understands the way children become attached to favourite things and places, but credibly recreates this through her character, Ruthie. Day’s pen-and-ink and watercolour illustrations ably complement the text. They have charm and clarity, and young readers will easily identify with the children who people the pictures. It is a well-produced book which children in their first years at school will certainly enjoy.