The Belonging Tree is a thoughtful picture book about respect, inclusion, and acceptance in a woodland community of animals from writer Maryann Cocca-Leffler and illustrator Kristine A. Lombardi. Life was ordinary in the big oak tree on Forest Lane. Squirrels lived in every part of the tree, and the Gray squirrel family inhabited the knot in the middle. But the neighborhood starts to change as the big oak tree welcomes families of chipmunks, beavers, and birds. And with each new arrival, the Grays become increasingly unhappy. Can’t everything remain just as it was? It will take an unexpected moment of heroism from a thoughtful inhabitant to finally open hearts and bind together this diverse animal community. Christy Ottaviano Books
Maryann Cocca-Leffler is the Author and Illustrator of over 60 books for children. Maryann’s books, “Janine” and “Janine and the Field Day Finish”, (A 2016 ILA Teacher’s Pick) were inspired by her daughter, Janine. (www.janinesparty.com). Other recent books include, “Same Way Ben” (Albert Whitman 2019), “The Belonging Tree” (Christy Ottaviano Books 2020) and “The Power of YET” (Abrams 2021). Maryann grew up in Boston (depicted in her favorite book “Bus Route to Boston”) and now lives in Maine where she is busy on her next book. She loves to connect with kids in classrooms, in person or virtually, to inspire kindness, creativity and literacy.
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