When an ice storm snaps a small girl's favorite branch from the tree in
her yard, she's crestfallen. The girl's mom says it's just a branch. But
not to her! "That was the branch I sat on, jumped from, played under. It
was my castle, my spy base, my ship ..." Luckily, her neighbor Mr. Frank
understands. He says the branch has "potential." "What's potential?" she
asks. "It means it's worth keeping." And so, with imagination and
spirit, and Mr. Frank's guidance and tools, the girl transforms the
broken branch into something whole and new, giving it another purpose,
and her another place to treasure. In this endearing picture book,
author Mireille Messier explores a young child's experience with loss
and renewal. Though the little girl is heartbroken that her special
perch in the tree is gone, the kindness and vision of her neighbor,
combined with her own creativity and determination, help her recognize
that it can have a new life in a different form. The charming
intergenerational relationship adds depth and richness to the story, as
it becomes clear they both offer something valuable to each other. The
story is vividly and warmly illustrated by renowned, award-winning
artist, Pierre Pratt. This book would work well for character education
lessons on perseverance, teamwork and initiative. It also provides an
excellent example of caring for the environment by reusing salvaged
materials, making it a terrific pick for Maker Spaces and STEAM lessons.
