We Planted a Tree, illustrated by Bob Staake, which is now 15 years old, continues to have adventures and reach kids all over the country and world. Here’s the latest one—a Cleveland school bus driver used a grant from The Lion’s Club to gift copies of it to the students on his route!
From the cover image of a rooftop-leaping kitty’s shadowy silhouette, it’s clear that Halloween has gone to the cats in this celebration of trick-or-treat and felinekind. Muldrow builds a bit of gentle suspense with rhyming text narrated by “Country cats—/fancy cats—from far and near—/alley cats—house cats—no scaredy cats here!” The kitties form a quiet-footed fleet that’s out to frighten trick-or-treaters “with /a / yowl!” As the mammals playfully stalk a group of costumed kids portrayed with varying skin tones, a parallel plot tracks a kitten, frightened by the commotion and crying for its mama before a fuzzy reunion. Chen gets the clowder’s postures and behaviors just right, creating cat-tastically crowded, digitally rendered interspecies scenes of friends having a joyful, treat-filled time. Fun for cat lovers and Halloween fans alike. Ages 3–7. — Publishers Weekly
“. . . .This tale will inspire preschoolers to overcome their own fears. It contains a message of the importance of family, community, friendship, and fun. The use of wordplay and made-up words adds to the whimsical element of the narrative, engaging young readers and tickling their sense of humor. . . . This delightful Halloween adventure is ideal for a quick holiday story time session.” —SLJ
“The neighborhood kitties are out for a prowl on Halloween!. . . . Muldrow’s rhyming romp is a fine feline addition to libraries with large Halloween collections or as a gift for a favorite kitty collector. . . A seasonal story with nary a scare, suitable for tiny tot cat fans.” — Kirkus