Hidden by tall, tall trees, the little tree could not get enough sunlight or water to grow...until a little boy arrives. As the boy nurtures the tree throughout time, the two learn about friendship, cooperation, and love. "The Little Tree" enhances conceptual development in early readers by incorporating spatial relations and descriptive words into every sentence. Additionally, the easy-to-follow story line targets early cognitive constructs such as cause-and-effect and problem solving. This enriched language exposure can assist children in learning to use words to describe, classify, and control ongoing events in the environment. The theme of collaboration teaches children how mutual respect can foster positive, productive solutions.