Rupert had an attitude.

He thought he was better than all the other trees. Better than the ash, the elm, the birch, even better than the maple.

Rupert, the sturdy oak, grew acorns. Acorns fed all the forest animals: the squirrels, the deer and the lowly blind moles all depended on Rupert's acorns to get through the winter.

Rupert was proud of that. Too proud.

So proud that no birds would nest in Rupert's great branches. They didn't like being around someone who thought he was a little better than all the rest. The other trees couldn't be bothered with him either.

Rupert was lonely.

Rupert, the Sturdy Oak Tree tells the story of the change of heart Rupert must undergo to finally become part of the forest's family of trees and teaches its young listeners the value of being friendly and of seeing the worth in all others.

J. Fitzgerald is the mother of five children, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren, and she has been reading children's stories to all of them. She also loves to draw and has created all of the illustrations in Rupert, the Sturdy Oak Tree. Ms. Fitzgerald grew up on a farm and so easily writes stories about those things that she observed there as a child.