Every Time I Climb a Tree

Written by: David McCord

I have included the poem from this story below, but do not let that keep you from reading this book! The illustrations are one of the greatest aspect of this story. Many more things are revealed through these pictures. 

"Every time I climb a tree 

Every time I climb a tree 

Every time I climb a tree 

I scrape a leg Or skin a knee 

And every time I climb a tree

 I find some ants

 Or dodge a bee 

And get the ants 

All over me 

And every time I climb a tree

 Where have you been?

 They say to me 

But don’t they know that I am free

 Every time I climb a tree? 

I like it best To spot a nest

 That has an egg 

Or maybe three 

And then I skin 

The other leg 

But every time I climb a tree 

I see a lot of things to see 

Swallows rooftops and TV 

And all the fields and farms there be 

Every time I climb a tree 

Though climbing may be good for ants

 It isn’t awfully good for pants 

But still it’s pretty good for me 

Every time I climb a tree"

Teachers can also use this poem as a form of grade three comprehension assessment. The link to the assessment is below. This test analyzes the interpretive comprehension. Interpretations are one of the most difficult types of comprehension. 

http://schools.cms.k12.nc.us/hiddenvalleyES/Documents/3rd%20Grade%20EOG%20Study%20Materials/Everytime%20I%20climb%20a%20Tree.pdf

Below is a video of just one girl who clearly loves this poem!