The Me Tree

by Ashley Belote (Author) Ashley Belote (Illustrator)

Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

From author-illustrator Ashley Belote comes a hilarious story of a bear who has had it with living with roommates. But when he finally finds his own tree (just for me!), he discovers that this perfect house may be home to a number of uninvited guests.

Designed to engage early readers, this story combines charming characters with simple text, lively illustrations, and laugh-out-loud humor to help boost kids' confidence and create lifelong readers!

Bear just wants a tree for himself. No roommates, no guests, just sweet solitude. So he packs up his things, finds a great listing for a spacious tree, and moves in. At first, it's perfect. Just what he wanted. But he soon realizes that his tree might not be just for him... in fact, there seem to be quite a few residents of this tree. Will Bear learn how to share his Me Tree?

With hilarious text and illustrations by Ashley Belote, The Me Tree is a story about the ups and downs, sorrows and joys of living together--and finding community even when you're really, really not looking for it.

With full-color illustrations on every page, this humorous story is perfect for kids just beginning to read on their own. The early vocabulary and amusing illustrations make reading easy and fun! Exciting, easy-to-read books are the stepping stone a young reader needs to bridge the gap between being a beginner and being fluent.

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Kirkus Reviews

Celebrates both alone time and community—each one makes the other sweeter. (Early reader. 5-8)

Copyright 2021 Kirkus Reviews, LLC Used with permission

Publishers Weekly

A bear decides it's time to leave the nest--er, cave--in this humorous fable by Belote. Perusing a wall of accommodation listings, Bear zeroes in on one: "Seeking Solitude? Buy a Tree House Today!" Adults will find humor in additional details: "Move-in ready! Utilities on!" Bear decides to move in, but savvy readers will note foreshadowing: a squirrel grins from the window above the door. Oblivious, Bear declares, "A tree just for me!/ I think I'll call it.../ The Me Tree!" while labeling everything with yellow sticky notes: "My ladder," "my porch," "my yard!" Soon enough, however, Bear discovers the tree house's squatters: squirrels eat the popcorn, Sloth hogs the toilet, a manatee uses Bear's loofah in the bath. All Bear wants is some privacy--until they're gone, and he reads the notes they've left. Bright digital illustrations enliven this chaotic picture book extolment of "the more the merrier." Ages 4-8. (Nov.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
Ashley Belote
Ashley Belote is the illustrator of Frankenslime and Valenslime and the author-illustrator of her solo debut picture book, Listen Up, Louella. She studied traditional animation under the direction of Don Bluth. Ashley earned her BA from Alderson Broaddus University and her MA in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky. Her graduate study included a children's literature and illustration course through Simmons College. Ashley lives and works in North Carolina where she creates artwork that she hopes brings lots of laughs to others.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593384824
Lexile Measure
450
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Publication date
November 20, 2021
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV002030 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Bears
JUV045000 - Juvenile Fiction | Readers | Chapter Books
Library of Congress categories
Bears
Friendship
Animals
Picture books
Dwellings
Privacy

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