Song of the Trees facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Mildred D. Taylor |
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| Illustrator | Jerry Pinkney |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | children's literature, historical fiction |
| Publisher | Dial Press |
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Publication date
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1975 |
| Pages | 48 |
| ISBN | 9780553275872 |
| OCLC | 83446854 |
| Followed by | Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry |
Song of the Trees is a short novel written in 1975 by Mildred D. Taylor. Jerry Pinkney created the pictures for the book. It was the first book in her famous series about the Logan family. This story tells how Mr. Anderson tried to cut down the trees on the Logan family's land.
The main character is a young girl named Cassie Logan. She tries her best to save the special trees on her grandmother's land. Even though her family really needed money, Cassie felt the trees were just as important.
Song of the Trees has several follow-up books. These include Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (1976), Let the Circle Be Unbroken (1981), and The Road to Memphis (1990). There is also a book that tells what happened before this story, called The Land (2001).
What Happens in the Story?
A Morning on the Logan Farm
The story begins with eight-year-old Cassie Logan waking up. Her grandmother, Big Ma, tells her to get ready. Cassie looks out her window at the large forest behind their house. She loves these trees very much.
In the kitchen, Cassie's mother, Mary, is making breakfast. Her older brother, Stacey, is helping with the fire. Her younger brother, Christopher-John, is getting scolded for eating too much cornbread. Cassie's father, David Logan, is away working on the railroad in Louisiana. He sends money home to support the family. Cassie's youngest brother, Little Man, joins them. He and Cassie have a small argument about a stain on his pants.
Exploring the Forest and a Big Problem
After breakfast, Cassie and her brothers take their cows to a pond in the forest. The trees keep the air cool and their leaves seem to "sing" in the wind. Cassie asks Stacey if he hears it too, but he says it's just the wind. They leave the cows at the pond and go to pick blackberries.
While picking berries, they play hide-and-seek. Cassie notices the trees are silent. Their leaves are not moving anymore. Soon, they see two white men, Mr. Anderson and his partner Tom. The men are talking about cutting down the Logan family's trees. The children quickly hide so they won't be seen.
Mr. Anderson plans to talk to Big Ma about taking the trees. Tom worries about how David Logan will react. Mr. Anderson says David won't be a problem because he doesn't own the land. He sends Tom to get his lumbermen to start cutting.
A Difficult Decision for the Family
The Logan children rush back home. They find Mr. Anderson already talking to their mother and Big Ma. Mr. Anderson offers them sixty-five dollars for the trees. He says this is more money than David would earn in two months. Mary, Cassie's mother, does not want to sell the trees. She believes they can manage with the money David sends.
Mr. Anderson then says that something bad could happen to David. This worries Big Ma very much, and she quickly agrees to the offer. But the children run in and protest. Cassie scolds Mr. Anderson. She tells him the trees are her friends and he cannot cut them down. Her mother takes Cassie and sends her to her room.
Waiting for Papa and More Trouble
That night, Cassie looks out her window. She sees Mama, Big Ma, and Stacey riding their horse, Lady. Her mother tells her that Stacey is going to get their father. Three days pass, and Cassie misses her father.
On the fourth day, Cassie sees her mother walking alone into the forest. Cassie joins her and asks how sick she is. Mary tells her she is very sick but will feel better when David comes home. They walk deeper into the forest. Many trees have already been cut down. The trees still standing have white X's marked on them. Mother and daughter hold each other and cry at the sad sight.
Fighting to Save the Trees
After they return home, Little Man decides to see the destruction for himself. He ignores his mother's orders and goes into the forest. Cassie and Christopher-John follow him. They find Mr. Anderson and his team of lumbermen. Mr. Anderson tells the children to go home. When they refuse, a Black man named Claude tries to make them leave.
Claude grabs Little Man, who fights back and is pushed down. Cassie runs toward Mr. Anderson, but Claude stops her. He carries her away, with Christopher-John following and trying to help. Claude leaves them by the pond, telling them to go home.
Not knowing where Little Man is, Cassie and Christopher-John go back to where the lumbermen are. They find Little Man fighting with them. They cannot get him to stop. He hits Mr. Anderson in the leg with a big stick. Little Man tries to run away but is caught by the lumbermen. Cassie and Christopher-John tell them to let Little Man go, and they are also captured.
Christopher-John breaks free and kicks Mr. Anderson twice in the leg. He is caught again. Mr. Anderson gets angry and takes off his belt, ready to hit the children. But then, Stacey appears with Lady and their father, David. David is holding a black box.
Papa's Plan and the Trees Are Saved
David orders his children to be released. Mr. Anderson is happy to see David and thinks David will punish the children. Stacey takes his siblings and leads them far away from the scene.
When they are far enough, Stacey tells them David has set up dynamite around the forest. The black box David holds has a button that will make the dynamite explode. It would blow up everyone, including David, if Mr. Anderson does not stop cutting the trees.
Mr. Anderson tries to convince David to go with the deal he made with Big Ma. David refuses. The lumbermen see that David is serious. Mr. Anderson's partner, Tom, suggests they leave. Mr. Anderson agrees but wants to take the logs they already cut. David tells him no. The white men and the lumbermen leave the land without any logs. David stays until they are completely out of sight.
Afterward, Cassie looks up at the trees. She waits for them to "sing" again, but they remain silent. Their leaves do not move.
Who Are the Characters?
The Logan Family Members
The Logan family is very important in the story.
- David (Papa): The father of the children, who works on the railroad.
- Mary (Mama): The mother of the children.
- Caroline (Big Ma): David's mother and the children's grandmother.
- Stacey: The oldest of the Logan children.
- Cassie: The main character, an eight-year-old girl.
- Christopher-John: One of Cassie's younger brothers.
- Clayton Chester (Little Man): The youngest of the Logan children.
- Paul-Edward: Big Ma's husband and David's father (he is not present in the story).
The Lumbermen
These are the people who want to cut down the Logan family's trees.
- Mr. Anderson: The main person who wants to buy and cut the trees.
- Tom: Mr. Anderson's partner.
- The lumbermen: The workers who help Mr. Anderson cut down trees. They try to make a deal with the Logan family but are stopped by David.
Awards for the Book
Song of the Trees won the Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award in 1976. This award celebrates outstanding books by African American authors and illustrators.
