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Overview
Annie Glover’s grandma is always protesting something, but she goes too far when she chains herself to a century-old tree and names it Elmer. Elmer is scheduled to be cut down to make way for a new swimming-pool complex and Grandma is trying to save him, but Annie wants that swimming pool—and so do all her classmates. Now she must endure all the other fourth graders asking her embarrassing questions and that pesky Leroy Kirk calling her a “tree lover.” However, as Annie considers what Elmer means to her town and to herself, she begins to think that maybe Grandma’s not so crazy after all.
Adorable illustrations perfectly capture Annie’s scheme to save Elmer—with the help of her teacher, her best friend, a zany trio of parachuting Elvis impersonators, and, yes, even Grandma.
Synopsis
Annie Glover’s grandma is always protesting something, but she goes too far when she chains herself to a century-old tree and names it Elmer. Elmer is scheduled to be cut down to make way for a new swimming-pool complex and Grandma is trying to save him, but Annie wants that swimming pool—and so do all her classmates. Now she must endure all the other fourth graders asking her embarrassing questions and that pesky Leroy Kirk calling her a “tree lover.” However, as Annie considers what Elmer means to her town and to herself, she begins to think that maybe Grandma’s not so crazy after all.
Adorable illustrations perfectly capture Annie’s scheme to save Elmer—with the help of her teacher, her best friend, a zany trio of parachuting Elvis impersonators, and, yes, even Grandma.
School Library Journal
Gr 3–6—Nine-year-old Annie Glover is more than chagrined as she wraps the chain around her grandmother, locking the padlock as she finishes. Grandma is protesting the removal of a giant tree to make space for the newly planned swimming pool complex. Annie's fourth-grade classmates think Grandma is a weirdo until Jazz, Annie's best friend, discovers that the town of Bentley was originally named "Bent Tree" after the old elm. Annie and Jazz propose a plan to save "Elmer" and still have a swimming pool. Their teacher decides to make this a hands-on educational experience with enthusiastic support from all the students, except for Annie's nemesis, Leroy Kirk, whose dad is set to cut the tree down. Beard adds a comic twist when Annie's Uncle Claude, an Elvis impersonator, and his two sidekicks show up at Annie's house, hear about Grandma's protests, and promise "to deliver" for the rally. Suspense builds as the chainsaw roars, and Mrs. Hodge and most of her students gather around Elmer. Out of the sky parachute three Elvises as "Jailhouse Rock" blares from the airplane. Channel 8 news arrives and "Don't be cruel, to a tree that's true…" is heard gathering momentum across the swelling crowd. The city manager relents, and the chainsaw is silenced. Light fun, with a save-the-planet message, Beard's fast-paced plot accompanied by Maione's comic illustrations will have plenty of fans, including reluctant readers.—D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH