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The Enchanted Tree
By
Donna Heller and James Payne
What a fun book to read! The Enchanted Tree is about a unique tree
that produces fruit and vegetables in assorted shapes and colors.
Flossie, a high-energy flamingo, discovers this unique tree. When
she reaches up to pick an apple, a spark of energy springs from the
tree, and the squirting juice magically makes a beautiful red
rainbow. She soon discovers that every time she picks a food from
the tree, a rainbow color appears.
Flossie steps on the rainbow and sees a fascinating new land
of adventure and decides that she must share this discovery. She
runs to tell her best friends, Tootsie Turtle and Cranky Craig
Crocodile. She finds them resting by Lazy Lake, drinking soda and
eating chips and candy. Flossie convinces them to follow her to the
enchanted tree to sample the fruit and vegetables. Because Tootsie
and Cranky Craig are so sedentary, they have a difficult time
keeping up with Flossie. Flossie is determined to teach her friends
about all the good things that grow from the ground. When they
arrive at the tree, they all try the fruit and vegetables, creating
additional colors of the rainbow.
Flossie’s friends discover that eating the tree’s healthy
food causes them to feel good, to have lots of energy, and to be
less cranky. Flossie persuades Tootsie and Cranky Craig to climb the
rainbow and tells them that exercise is fun and will give them
energy, too. At the top of the rainbow, they find bicycles and
helmets and ride to the old wood mill, where they find Woodsy
Wisdom, the owl. After having a wonderful feast, they find
Rollerblades and play a fun game of tag. Tootsie and Cranky Craig
soon discover that their bodies and thoughts are changing for the
better. At the end of the rainbow, they meet Happy Henry Hyena and a
farmer, Billy Bob, who encourages them to try all his good food so
they can have healthy bodies and strong bones.
I highly recommend this book. The story of The Enchanted Tree
is a wonderful way to show children that eating healthy and
exercising is fun and worthwhile. It is delightfully illustrated by
David Zamboni, whose drawings should even capture the attention of
small children. At the present time, Mr. Zamboni lives in Knoxville,
Tennessee, where he works as a freelance illustrator.
Donna Heller currently resides in Bradenton with her family.
She is a cyclist and an advocate for healthy eating choices. James
Payne lives in Sarasota. His dedication to fitness began as an
athlete, soldier, fitness studio owner, and personal trainer. For
more information or to purchase the book, go to The Peppertree Press
website at:
www.peppertreepublishing.com,
www.amazon.com, www.borders.com,
www.barnesandnoble.com,
or www.booksamillion.com.
Book Review
by: Stephen M. Horowitz
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