Tap the Magic Tree - by Christie Matheson (Hardcover)

About the Book

An innovative, refreshing debut picture book about the changing seasons and the magicNand true interactivityNof turning a page. Matheson invites the reader to tap, rub, touch, and wiggle illustrations to make an apple tree bloom, produce fruit, and lose its leaves. Full color.

Book Synopsis

The acclaimed interactive picture book about the changing seasons. "Like Hervé Tullet's Press Here, Matheson's Tap the Magic Tree proves you don't need apps for interactivity," praised the New York Times.

Every book needs you to turn the pages. But not every book needs you to tap it, shake it, jiggle it, or even blow it a kiss. Innovative and timeless, Tap the Magic Tree asks you to help one lonely tree change with the seasons. Now that's interactive--and magical!

It begins with a bare brown tree. But tap that tree, turn the page, and one bright green leaf has sprouted! Tap again--one, two, three, four--and four more leaves have grown on the next page. Pat, clap, wiggle, jiggle, and see blossoms bloom, apples grow, and the leaves swirl away with the autumn breeze. The collage-and-watercolor art evokes the bright simplicity of Lois Ehlert and Eric Carle and the interactive concept will delight fans of Pat the Bunny. Combining a playful spirit and a sense of wonder about nature, Christie Matheson has created a new modern classic that is a winner in every season--and every story time!

And don't miss the follow-up, Touch the Brightest Star!

From the Back Cover

There is magic in every tree.
The tall, silent one in the woods.
The small, bumpy one in the park.
Even the bare brown tree in your backyard.

As the seasons change, trees change, too.
They sprout leaves. The leaves change color.
Sometimes flowers bloom. Sometimes apples grow.
Trees shelter birds and feed squirrels and bees.

There is magic in every tree.
And in this book, you become the magician.
How?
Tap, clap, wiggle, jiggle,
and then . . .
turn the page.

Review Quotes

"Proves you don't need apps for interactivity. [A] child makes the seasons change by following Matheson's instructions; each turned page shows the result. You can imagine this book wearing out after repeated tapping, swishing, counting and shaking, but you won't ever have to recharge its battery." -- New York Times

"The conceit of this clever picture book is that the changing seasons occur as if by magic. Readers are shown a bare brown tree and are implored to, "Tap it once. Turn the page to see." As they do, green leaves appear. . . .Simply a treasure to behold." -- School Library Journal

"Matheson invites readers to take an apple tree through a seasonal round using taps and page turns in place of touch-screens. . . . A universal theme, developed in an unusually clean, simple presentation...and, at least, with no need for batteries." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Take an apple tree through the seasons by tapping, brushing, shaking, and clapping. . . . It's a good on-the-way-to-bed activity." -- Publishers Weekly

"Although simple in presentation with ample white space, the artwork provides a glorious rendition of the four seasons of a tree. No iPad is needed to make this interactive book totally satisfying." -- Booklist