Laura is walking home from school with her mother. Much to Laura's dismay, her mom insists on stopping at trees along the way and speaking to them as if they were her friends. First Laura hopes no one will notice. Then she stands close to the trees, hoping passersby will think her mother is talking to her.

As her mother greets each tree, mentioning its unique features, Laura grudgingly begins to take note, and slowly her curiosity overcomes her embarrassment. By the time they're almost home, Laura has made the acquaintance of many special trees in her neighborhood and has come to recognize each one's distinctive features. In the end, she has been infected by her mother's contagious enthusiasm for nature and she begins to develop her own relationship to the natural world.

Doris Gove's charming tale will inspire budding young naturalists to get to know the trees in their own neighborhoods. General, easy-to-remember information in the story teaches children how to identify eleven common trees, including the dogwood, tulip poplar, maple and pine. A glossary at the back of the book provides more details. Marilynn Mallory's full-color illustrations not only capture the delight of the story, but also masterfully depict the botanical features of the trees.