Review: Donuts Don't Grow On Trees....Or Do They?
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 12, 2013
Merl the Squirrel was alone because all the trees had been cut down and his friends were gone. Merl was searching for something to eat when he found a tiny acorn on the ground.Merl closed his eyes, held the acorn tight and wished for a tree. Suddenly, a tree sprouted out of the ground. It had long branches but held no nuts for Merl to eat.Merl guarded the tree from danger, watered it and polished it's leaves each day. One day when he was searching a near-by park for nuts, he met a man sitting on a bench. The man gave Merl a donut and he hurried back to his tree with the treasure.As Merl ate the donut, an amazing thing happened. Donuts sprouted from the tree branches. The tree was covered with donuts!Merl learned that living in a donut tree was not always easy, but true happiness came from the love and friendship of his tree.Children will love the idea of donuts growing on a tree. They will also realize that it is possible to have too much of a good thing.Merl loved the tree just for being a tree...that is what friendship is about. Friends are there for each other in good times and bad. This story could also be used to discuss ecology and how Merl had to wish for a tree because all the trees had been cut down.The color illustrations are absolutely beautiful. I read this book in the landscape orientation on a Kindle Fire HD. Each page had four lines of rhyming text over a full-screen illustration.This book will make a wonderful read-aloud for young children. Older children will enjoy this selection for independent reading.  I can't think of a better bedtime treat than a glass of milk, a donut and this book. Recommended for all ages!