Arbor Day Square is a fine example of the picture book format as a vehicle for historical fiction.  Katie and her papa admire the brand-newness of their town as it springs from the prairie, but sorely miss the presence of trees.  The community antes up to purchase fifteen saplings and an Arbor Day tradition begins.  Most precious to Kate, her father and her own family, as the author follows them into their future, is the dogwood that commemorates the life of her mother.