When a Tree Grows by Cathy Ballou Mealey (review)

According to this playful picture book, when a tree grows only two things could possibly happen: Moose could use it as a scratching post for its antlers, causing the tree to sway gently from side to side, or Moose can push too hard, forcing the tree to fall over and crash into Bear's den. Bear could, in turn, ignore the noise and continue his nap, or he could stomp outside; there he could decide the sun is too bright and head back into his cave, or he might stumble into Moose, continuing a series of events that could at any point end with little drama but that are instead given the potential for further silliness. There are obvious parallels to If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, and this book similarly amps up the goofiness as Moose and Bear's encounter leads to Squirrel's catching a ride to the big city and becoming a movie star but then missing the forest so much that Moose scooters into town and takes him home, where a welcome party and acorn treats bring story full circle. The layout smoothly guides viewers along, with a trompe-l'oeil lifted page corner bearing the legend "Or …" tempting youngsters to turn the page, and the result of the previous presented possibility taking up the verso as the recto introduces viewers to the next setup; while the digital art can get a bit busy, it also has moments of eye-catching richness. Fans of the antics of the aforementioned mouse (and that series' moose counterpart) will delight in these forest animals' increasingly kooky adventures. KQG