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ENCHANTED STORIES: Hundred Feet Tall

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Hundred Feet Tall
Written by Benjamin Scheuer
Illustrated by Jemima Williams
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2020. Picture book.

Even things that grow to be one hundred feet tall start very small. A young rabbit on a walk with their parents finds a seed one day, and plants it. A lot of care, water, soil, and sunshine help the tiny seed to put down roots and start sprouting. As the young rabbit cares for the growing seed, so does their mother nurture a growing baby inside her. The young rabbit looks forward in excitement to when the tree, thanks to all the love and care, grows to be one hundred feet tall.

The soft illustrations and sweet rhyming text make this a cozy read-aloud, and the gentle story will make it a repeat read for many. This is a sweet story about two different kinds of growth and nurturing; one at the forefront of the text, and one so subtle that not all children will catch it on the first read. The parallels drawn between a rabbit caring for a seed and welcoming a new baby into a family impart wisdom with a gentle touch, with a story to be enjoyed on the surface, and lessons to be learned beneath.
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