"Over the course of eighty years a spruce tree grows, along with the little boy who first selected it at a tree farm. At the end of its life, the tree is chosen to be the centerpiece of a city's holiday celebration"--

Over the course of eighty years a spruce tree grows, along with the little boy who first selected it at a tree farm. Now at the end of its life, the glorious tree is chosen to be the centerpiece of a city's holiday celebration.

This is a book about wonder and about questioning what we think we know. By the time we become adults, we think we know quite a lot. Facts and theories all prop up our idea of the world and how it should work, but do we really know, or are we just trying to make ourselves feel secure? In Everybody Knows What a Tree Is, children talk their way through what they think they know - the uses for trees, the fun to be had, and the amazing scientific facts about them. But in contrast, the animals have a different language and experience for talking about trees. Over time, the children begin to question their knowledge and they look to their senses. But when this, too, breaks down, they are ultimately led to wonder what the experience of a tree is for itself, a truly magical question. Knowledge is important for many reasons: for understanding and solving problems, for building new concepts and creations, and for describing how our world works. But wonder allows us to interact with the world as it actually is - before the labels, definitions, and rules get laid on top. Ultimately, the book asks us to be comfortable with NOT knowing. It invites us to remember that life is ultimately a mystery and that not having an answer is an answer itself.

"Fans of R.J. Palacio’s Wonder will appreciate this feel-good story of friendship and unconventional smarts.” —Kirkus Reviews Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike. The author of the beloved One for the Murphys gives readers an emotionally-charged, uplifting novel that will speak to anyone who’s ever thought there was something wrong with them because they didn’t fit in. This paperback edition includes The Sketchbook of Impossible Things and discussion questions. A New York Times Bestseller! * “Unforgettable and uplifting.”—School Library Connection, starred review * "Offering hope to those who struggle academically and demonstrating that a disability does not equal stupidity, this is as unique as its heroine.”—Booklist, starred review * “Mullaly Hunt again paints a nuanced portrayal of a sensitive, smart girl struggling with circumstances beyond her control." —School Library Journal, starred review