The Trees Have Hearts


Children - Educational
48 Pages
Reviewed on 10/10/2013
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

Mrs. D. (Olga D'Agostino), an award-winning children's author, was born in western Ukraine. She lived in the historical city of Lviv, where she studied business in Lviv Business College and worked in the food industry. In 1992 she immigrated to the USA with her two small daughters and for years worked in her own business. In 2011, she began her career as a writer, focusing on writing children's books that have meaning and provide valuable lessons. One of her children's books, The Trees Have Hearts, won a 2013 Mom's Choice Award. She is a member of SCBWI and speaks a few languages fluently. She lives in the famous town of Smithville, NJ, with her husband Patrick and a meticulous old cat named Nyda.

Published books by Mrs. D. include Carlo the Mouse on Vacation, The Trees Have Hearts, The City Kittens and The Old House Cat, Good Morning, World!, and Carlo the Mouse, Book 1: Too Many Rules for One Little Mouse.

The full series of Carlo the Mouse and her new books Runaway Clothes,The Royal Palm, The Mysterious Life Inside a Closet, That Is How Things Are: (two stories)The Autumn Wind andThe Kitten and the Sparrow, and three rhyming stories in Who Is Most Important in the Fridge? will be published in the near future. Her books are available in print on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and as e-books for most popular e-devices. For updates on Mrs. D.'s books, please visit her website: www.mrsdbooks.net

    Book Review

Reviewed by Joy Hannabass for Readers' Favorite

Have you ever moved to a new place and felt all alone because you had no friends? That’s what this beautiful book is about. This young girl was not only new with no friends, she couldn’t speak the language of those in her new hometown. This girl finds comfort in the beautiful garden at her new home, the mysterious wind becoming her first imaginary friend. As she spends time in the garden, the trees begin to talk to her, and these three trees became her friends as well. This leads to a beautiful imaginary world to this young one, helping her cope with the loneliness she faces.

This is a lovely book for young girls, and especially young girls who face loneliness because of being in a new place. They are sure to find peace and encouragement in the special values taught in The Trees Have Hearts. Mrs. D does a wonderful job of reaching out to kids in a unique way in this book. The beautiful trees give warmth and peace as they spread their blooms throughout the garden and into the hearts of those who read this book. The cover is beautiful and appealing, and the illustrations and colors throughout the book are adorable, heartwarming, and peaceful. Any young girl would want to snatch this book from the shelves to have as their own. I encourage parents of young girls to purchase this one for your child’s library. And even if you haven’t found yourself moving lately, this book can still have a positive impact on your child’s self confidence.

By K. Ree

Kitty Muse Book Reviews

1 new country + 1 new home + 1 new language = one sad, lonely little girl.

This solitary little child watches the other children play, but from the safety of the trees that hide her from their sight. She would love to join them, but, since she can't understand them, she stays in her sanctuary with her wishes and dreams.

What a surprise, then, when the trees speak to her-in her own language! The magnolia, the weeping cherry, and the plum tree comfort her and welcome her into their leafy homes. Their constant presence, their interest in her day, and their encouragement when she has successes make her more and more sure of herself. Old Wind, who spends a lot of time among the trees, becomes her friend as well, finding her when she is lost and keeping her from harm.

But what happens when she goes away to summer camp? How will she get along without her garden friends? Old Wind has the freedom to go and check up on her, and is able to report back to the trees that she is happy-with new friends.

Does this disappoint the trees? Not at all-they welcome the little girl and her new-found friends. She is finally sure enough of herself that she can live in both worlds.

Until, once again, she has to pull up her own young roots and move again. The trees and Old Wind assure her that they will always be friends, since Old Wind can follow her wherever she goes.

What a darling book! I can just see some little girl, eyes sparkling with delight, as someone reads this book to her. The descriptions are enthralling ("Shaking glowing sparkles to the earth, the moon painted a soundless night in a silver shade with his invisible brushes"), and the story is just so sweet. The little girl is so real; I can imagine Ms. D'Agostino writing this with her own daughter in mind.

The character I most admired, though, was the little girl's mother. She lives the story of the talking trees with her daughter, instead of telling her that they live only in her young imagination. I guess the mom must have taken the author's advice at the front of the book:

"Be a child for a moment...Dive into their imaginary world where you can hide in the shadows of blossoming trees...Do not lose this precious time together..."

And I cannot add anything to that.

Gina DiCaprio


This review is from: The Trees Have Hearts (Paperback)
I highly recommend reading this incredibly detailed and loving book along with your child. If not, then I would definitely have your children read it on their own because it captivates and pulls you in from beginning to end. With the descriptive language and detail to its surroundings, this story is the type of book that enables you to close your eyes and become part of the pages. All good stories have the power to take us to another world, and bring us back to see our own in a new way. This one is by far, one of those beloved books.

The sweet thing about this story is that you can read it with children between the ages of four and seven, and after that, they can decide to read on their own or continue to enjoy it with you. In our household, we look forward to our bedtime stories and downtime. I look forward to having this book next to the children's bed for many years to come as we imagine away with the little girl and her new friends.

We walked away with so many rewards from this story. It teaches you that you can learn many different things and appreciate the uniqueness and differences in all qualities of friends. Every person in this world is capable of contributing a certain gift toward one another. In "The Trees Have Hearts," the each tree possessed a unique quality and was able to teach the little girl something different as a result. Most of all, they taught her that you can make a friend no maty Ginater what the circumstances are. That is the beauty in all living things; whether they are human or a part of nature.

Mom's Choice Award

The Trees Have Hearts is a recipient of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award. The Mom's Choice Awards honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others.

Mrs.D.

2014 Award Contest Finalists!Honored!